SKETCHES 


O  F 


WILLIAMS  COLLEGE. 


WILLIAMSTOWN,    MASS 


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SPRING KIELD,  MASS.*    \    \ 

H.  S.  TAYLOR,  PRINTER. 


Of^^pi^  '   C^*»-t'     4*Wr^  //^^V'  ^^^—    ***■ 
jr^  TO     THE  ^ 

ALUMNI  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE, 

WHO,  THOUGH  COMPARATIVELY  SMALL  IN  NUMBER,  ARE  ADORNING 
EVERY  PROFESSION, 

AND    WHO    HAVE    EVINCED    BY    SUBSTANTIAL    MEMENTOS, 
THEIR  LOVE  FOR  THEIR  ^ALMA  MATER, 

THIS  WORK  IS  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED, 

BY  THE  AUTHORS. 


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PREFACE.         ,^ 


Kind  reader  :  you  hold  in  your  hand,  a  publication 
making  no  lofty  pretensions  for  literary  merit,  or  gen- 
eral interest;  and  which,  therefore,  cannot  suffer  a 
great  fall  in  your  estimation,  when  you  come  to  read 
it.  The  authors  of  it  are  students  in  college  —  mere 
boys,  yet  in  their  '  'teens.'  Inspired  by  the  spirit  which 
possesses  all  Yankees,  they  have  written  this  work, 
without  the  supervision  of  older  and  wiser  heads.  If 
then,  its  pages  should  show  that  Phaeton-like,  we  have 
sometimes  lost  our  way,  and  perhaps  turned  over,  the 
blame  rests  with  us  alone.  We  trust,  however,  that 
none  of  our  errors  are  of  such  a  nature  as  to  injure 
the  college,  in  whose  welfare,  we  feel  a  lively  interest. 
If  it  were  so,  we  should  surely  shed  tears  of  repentance, 
though  perhaps  too  late. 

We  claim  not  the  merit  of  originality.  The  materials 
from  which  the  following  pages  have  been  compiled, 
were  gathered  from  various  sources  ;  and  it  is  with  the 
view  of  giving  to  these  scattered  materials  a  more  pop- 
ular and  accessible  form,  that  we  present  this  work  to 
the  public.  If  the  information  conveyed  shall  serve  to 
enlighten  and  interest  any  in  regard  to  the  origin, 
struggles,  and  present  prosperity  of  the  college ;  or  if 


VI  PREFACE. 

it  shall  recall  one  pleasing  remembrance  of  days  gone 
by,  to  any  of  her  sons,  we  shall  feel  that  we  have  not 
labored  in  vain. 

In  preparing  the  history  of  the  college,  we  are  in- 
debted for  much  of  our  information  to  addresses 
delivered  at  the  dedication  of  the  Chapel,  in  1828,  and 
at  the  Semi- Centennial  Celebration,  in  1843  ;  also  to 
biographical  sketches  of  Presidents  Fitch  and  Moore, 
in  the  Quarterly  Register ;  the  life  of  Dr.  Griffin,  and 
certain  valuable  manuscripts,  and  much  oral  informa- 
tion, with  which  we  have  been  kindly  favored,  and  for 
which  we  are  truly  grateful.  We  have  clothed  the 
facts  given  us  in  the  best  garments  to  be  found  in  our 
scanty  wardrobe. 

In  the  second  part,  we  have  endeavored  to  give  such 
a  sketch  of  the  present  state  of  the  college,  its  regula- 
tions, its  customs,  and  its  attractions,  as  shall  present  a 
correct  picture  to  those  who  are  unacquainted  with  the 
subject,  but  wish  to  become  so.  This  part  in  particular, 
we  are  aware,  betrays  a  lack  of  the  '  labor  limse.'  And 
if  asked  why  it  has  not  been  bestowed,  our  excuse 
might  be  the  same  which  a  New  England  lady  would 
give  for  not  imitating  the  Chinese  woman  who  filed  a 
crowbar  down  to  a  needle  ;  it  would  take  too  long,  and 
not  be  in  the  fashion  of  this  age  of  steam. 

In  committing  the  work  to  the  public,  we  feel  sure 
that  whatever  may  be  its  reception,  the  attempt  was 
prompted  by  a  love  for  the  college,  and  a  heartfelt  de- 
sire for  its  continued  prosperity. 

D.  A.  VTells, 

S.   H.  Davis. 
Williams  College,  June,  1847. 


#  * 


PART    I. 


WILLIAMS  COLLEGE  AS  IT  HAS  BEEN, 


SKETCHES 


»    )3     o      >a 


OF 


WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 


CHAPTER   I. 

SKETCH  OF  COLONEL  WILLIAMS. 

Since  Williams  College*  owes  its  origin  and  its  name  to  Col. 
Ephraim  Williams,  we  have  thought  it  proper  to  introduce  a  short 
sketch  of  his  life.  Col.  W.  was  born  at  Newton,  near  Boston,  about 
the  year  1713.  During  his  early  life  he  followed  the  seas,  visiting 
most  of  the  European  countries.  In  this  way  he  acquired  a  general 
knowledge  of  men  and  things,  which  compensated,  to  a  great  degree, 
for  his  want  of  a  liberal  education  ;  and  a  gracefulness  of  manners  for 
which  he  was  always  distinguished.  At  his  father's  desire  he  relin- 
quished his  ocean  life,  and  turned  his  attention  to  military  affairs, 
which  in  those  days  necessarily  engaged  the  attention  of  every  citizen 
more  or  less,  and  for  which  he  had  uncommon  talent.  In  the  war 
between  England  and  France,  1740  —  '48,  he  was  called  into  action, 
and  served  with  honor  as  Captain  of  a  company  raised  in  New 
England  for  the  Canada  service. 

After  the  peace  concluded  at  Aix-la-Chapelle,  in  1748,  the  General 
Court  granted  to  Col.  Williams  two  hundred  acres  of  land  in  the  town 


*  The  name  is  sometimes  erroneously  written  with  an  apostrophe :  i.  e. 
*  William's  '  or  *  Williams'  College.'  This  is  as  improper  as  it  would  be  to  say 
Harvard's  University,  or  Yale's  College. 

2 


10  SKETCHES   OF   WILLIAMS   COLLEGE. 

of  Hoosack,  (which  included  Williamstown  and  Adams,)  and  gave 
him  command  of  the  line  of  forts  west  of  the  Connecticut.  During 
this  command  he  resided  principally  at  Forts  Hoosack  and  Massachu- 
setts, situated  in  the  town  of  Hoosack,  the  former  near  the  present 
locality  of  the  colleges,  and  the  latter  three  miles  and  a  half  to  the 
east.  ■  Thp§e  ferts  formed  the  bulwark  of  the  frontier,  and  under  their 
protection,  .the  settjlemerits  in  this  region  began.  The  inhabitants 
became  ^rd/e^itlj^  attached  tp  their  patriotic  defender,  and  at  this  time 
he'.fipst  mtipiaXed  to  iheni  his  purpose  of  devoting  his  property  to  the 
Establishment  of  a  free  school  for  the  advantage  of  the  frontier  settlers. 

On  the  commencement  of  hostilities  in  1755,  he  was  again  called 
into  active  service.  The  regiment  under  his  command  was  ordered  to 
join  the  army  of  Gen.  Johnson,  who  was  then  marching  to  repel  the 
French  invasion  from  the  north.  A  presentiment  of  coming  death 
seems  at  this  time  to  have  overshadowed  the  mind  of  Col.  W. ;  for 
before  he  joined  the  army  he  made  his  will  at  Albany,  on  the  22d  of 
July  1755,  by  which  he  devoted  his  property  to  the  foundation  of  a 
Free  School  among  the  settlers,  whose  hardships  and  dangers  he  had 
shared,  and  in  whose  welfare  he  felt  a  lively  interest. 

On  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  September  of  the  same  year,  a 
detachment  consisting  of  one  thousand  soldiers  and  two  hundred 
Mohawk  Indians,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Williams,  was  sent 
forward  by  Gen.  Johnson  to  intercept  the  advance  guard  of  the 
French  army,  marching  down  under  Baron  Dieskau.  Having  dis- 
covered the  approach  of  Col.  Williams,  by  means  of  his  Indian 
runners,  Dieskau  formed  his  regulars  across  the  road,  and  ordered  his 
Canadian  and  savage  allies  to  station  themselves  in  advance  on  the 
right  and  left,  under  cover  of  the  woods.  The  detachment  of  Col. 
Williams  had  advanced  some  distance  into  this  skilfully  arranged 
ambuscade,  when  the  terrific  Indian  yell  pierced  the  woods  in  all 
directions,  and  a  heavy  firing  was  suddenly  commenced  by  the  regu- 
lars in  front,  and  the  concealed  enemy  on  both  sides,  which  did  great 
execution  and  thinned  off  rank  after  rank  of  the  sturdy  New  England- 
ers.  Col.  Williams  fell  among  the  first  —  being  shot  with  a  musket 
ball  through  the  head. 

His  remains  are  still  resting  in  obscurity  in  the  place  where  he  fell. 
A  large  rock  bearing  his  name,  on  the  road  from  Glens  Falls  to  Cald- 
well, near  Lake  George,  is  pointed  out  by  the  inhabitants  as  marking 
the  spot,  but  it  is  believed  erroneously. 

Col.  Williams  was  a  patriot  and  a  hero:  as  such  he  deserves  a 
monument  over  his  grave. 


SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  11 

*  When  on  Europe's  red  plains  heroes  gallantly  perish,  * 

Fame  spreads  her  broad  pinions  their  exploits  to  tell ; 
While  the  smooth  chiseled  busts  their  resemblances  cherish, 
And  well-sculptured  urns  mark  the  place  where  they  fell.'  - 

And  the  more  does  Col.  Williams  deserve  some  solid  testimonial  of 
respect  over  his  resting-place,  because  in  the  darkest  hour  of  the 
Colonies'  existence,  when  the  thoughts  of  most  men  were  absorbed  in 
the  bloody  struggles  with  the  French  and  Indians,  he  remembered  the 
interests  of  learning,  and  provided  for  the  education  of  coming 
generations.  For  his  countrymen,  he  lived ;  for  his  countrymen,  he 
died  ;  and  his  bones  lie  loose  among  the  rocks,  without  even  a  slab  of 
marble  to  tdl  tlie  traveler  that  he  is  passing  the  grave  of  a  patriot  and% 
philanthropist.  Do  not  justice  and  gratitude  demand  of  the  Corpora-' 
tion  of  Williams  College  the  erection  of  a  handsome  monument  to  its 
generous  founder  1 


*% 


'^^«i 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE    PEEE    SCHOOL. 

The  property  of  Col.  Williams,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  not  very 
g  considerable.  It  consisted  chiefly  in  notes  and  bonds,  and  in  lands  in 
^Hampshire  and  Berkshire  counties.  After  several  small  bequests  to 
his  relatives,  he  willed  '  that  the  remainder  of  his  lands  should  be  sold}^, 
at  the  discretion  of  his  executors,  within  five  years  after  an  established 
peace  ;  and  that  the  interest  of  the  monies  arising  from  the  sale,  and 
also  the  interest  of  his  notes  and  bonds,  should  be  applied  to  the  sup- 
port of  a  Free  School,  in  a  township  west  of  Fort  Massachusetts ; 
provided  the  said  township  fall  within  Massachusetts,  upon  running 
the  line  between  Massachusetts  and  New  York,  and  provided  the  said 
township,  when  incorporated,  be  called  Williamstown.'  Both  of  these 
conditions  took  place.  * 

John  Worthington,  Esq.,  of  Springfield,  and  Israel  Williams,  Esq., 
of  Hatfield,  the  executors  of  the  will,  sold  the  lands  and  loaned  the 
monies  arising  from  the  sales.  The  yearly  interest  was  again  loaned, 
and  thus  the  fund  was  annually  growing  under  their  faithful  care  from 
the  death  of  Col.  W.  in  1755  till  1785.  They  then  applied  to  the 
Legislature  for  an  act  enabling  them  to  fulfil  the  benevolent  intention 
of  the  testator.  An  act  was  accordingly  passed,  incorporating  *  Wil- 
liam Williams,  Theodore  Sedgwick,  Woodbridge  Little,  John  Bacon,  ^ 
Thompson  J.  Skinner,  Israel  Jones,  and  David  Noble,  Esquires,  the**|* 
Rev.  Seth  Swift,  and  the  Rev.  Daniel  Collins,  trustees  of  the  donation 
of  Ephraim  Williams,  for  maintaining  a  Free  School  in  Williamstown.' 

The  trustees  held  their  first  meeting  at  Pittsfield  on  the  24th  day  of 
April,  1785.  William  Williams,  Esq.  was  elected  President,  and  Rev. 
Seth  Swift,  Treasurer.  Finding  the  funds  which  were  now  transferred 
to  the  treasurer  by  the  executors,  insufficient  to  erect  a  building  for 
the  school,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  solicit  subscriptions.  In 
1788  a  committee  was  appointed  to  erect  a  school  house.  This 
building  (now  called  West  College)  was  completed  in  1790,  and  is  of 
the  following  dimensions :  82  feet  long,  42  broad,  and  4  stories  high. 
About  this   time  the  Corporation  petitioned  the  Legislature  for  a 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  13 

lottery  to  raise  ^1200,  which  was  granted,  and  the  avails  of  it  amounted 
to  .£1037.  18s.  2d. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Free  School  Corporation  in  October,  1790,  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  procure  a  preceptor ;  to  whom  they  offered 
a  salary  of  .£120.     The  instructions  of  this  committee  we  insert  as  an 
excellent  epitome  of  what  constitutes  a  good  teacher.     He  was  to  be 
'  a  man  of  good  moral   character ;    of  the  Protestant  religion ;  well 
acquainted  with  the  English  and  learned  languages,  the  liberal  arts, 
and  the  sciences  ;  apt  to  teach  ;  with  talents  to  command  the  respect 
of  his  pupils ;  of  mild  disposition  ;  and  of  elegant  and  accomplished 
manners.'     The  committee,  thus  instructed,  procured  the  services  of. 
Rev.  Ebenezer  Fitch,*  of  whose  moral  and  intellectual  attainment^ 
we  need  only  say  that  the  trustees  resolved  that  the  committee  had  r 
.fulfilled  their  duty. 

»  At  the  same  meeting  the  Corporation  adopted  a  seal  which  was 
used  for  some  years  after  the  school  had  become  a  college.  Its  device 
was  a  teacher  surrounded  by  three  pupils  with  books  in  their  hands, 
and  the  motto,  '  E  liberalitate  E.  Williams,  Armigeri.' 

The  Free  School  (so  called  agreeably  to  the  will)  was  opened  Oct^ 

20,  1791,  with  Mr.  Fitch  as  Preceptor  and  Mr.  John  Lester  as  assist- 

.;/ant :  an  usher  was  afterwards  added.     There  were  two  departments  : 

^^%L  grammar  school,  or   academy,  and  an  English  free  school.     In  the 

former,  all  the  branches  which  composed  the  course  of  education  in 

the  colleges  were  taught :  a  yearly  tuition  of  35  shillings  was  charged. 

*'«  The  latter  was  chiefly  composed  of  boys  from  the  higher  classes  in  the 
town  schools,  to  whom  gratuitous  instruction  was  given  in  the  common 
English  branches. 

The  school  soon  became  quite  popular.  Young  men  resorted  to  it 
from  every  part  of  the  Union  and  from  Canada.     Its  growing  reputation 

f    ^and  usefulness  strengthened  the  desire  of  the  trustees  to  convert  the 

'*!»■; 

*  Mr.  Fitch  was  born  Sept.  26, 1756.  He  entered  Yale  College  in  1773.  He 
was  highly  esteemed  in  College  as  a  diligent  and  virtuous  student.  After 
receiving  his  degree  in  '77  he  passed  two  years  at  New  Haven  as  a  resident 
graduate.  He  then  taught  school  a  year  in  New  Jersey,  and  in  1780  was 
appointed  tutor  in  Yale  College.  This  office  he  resigned  in  '83,  and  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  in  company  with  Henry  Daggett,  Esq.,  of  New 
Haven.  In  June,  of  the  same  year,  he  sailed  for  London,  on  business  of  the 
firm,  and  returned  the  following  winter.  Three  years  after  he  was  again 
appointed  tutor  in  Yale  College,  and  officiated  as  senior  tutor  and  librarian 
till  1791.  During  this  time  he  united  with  the  church,  and  was  licensed  to 
preach.  He  came  to  Williamstown,  Oct.  1791,  and  from  this  time  his  life  is 
incorporated  with  the  history  of  the  School  and  College. 


14  SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

school  into  a  college,  which  indeed  seems  to  have  been  their  design 
from  the  beginning ;  as  we  infer  both  from  the  acts  of  the  corporation 
and  from  the  willingness  of  Mr.  Fitch  to  leave  his  high  post  at  Yale, 
and  become  a  preceptor.  It  seems  to  have  been  understood  that  the 
school  was  to  be  but  temporary ;  and  that  as  soon  as  the  way  was 
prepared  it  was  to  assume  the  name  of  a  college,  the  dignity  of  which 
it  always  bore. 

Accordingly,  at  a  meeting  of  the  trustees  in  May,  1792,  a  petition 
was  prepared  to  be  sent  to  the  General  Court  at  its  next  session,  asking 
for  an  act  incorporating  the  school  into  a  college.  This  petition  set 
forth  the  prosperity  of  the  school ;  the  eligibility  of  the  situation  for  a 
college ;  and  the  advantage  of  establishing  another  college,  to  the 
*  reputation  of  the  state  and  the  interests  of  learning.  It  concluded  as 
follows  :  *  We  hope  it  is  a  laudable  wish  that  we  indulge  of  seeing 
Massachusetts  the  Athens  of  the  United  States  of  America,  to  which 
young  gentlemen  from  every  part  of  the  Union  may  resort  for  instruc- 
tion in  all  the  branches  of  useful  and  polite  literature ;  and  we  cannot 
entertain  the  least  doubt  but  the  object  of  our  present  memorial 
perfectly  coincides  with  the  object  of  such  wish.  Your  memorialists 
therefore  humbly  pray  your  Honors  that  the  Free  School  in  Williams- 
town  may  be  incorporated  into  a  College  by  the  name  of  Williams 
Hall,  and  that  the  nurturing,  liberal  hand  of  the  Legislature  may  be 
extended  to  it  by  a  grant  of  lands  in  the  easterly  part  of  this  Common- 
wealth, or  in  such  other  way  as  to  your  Honors  may  seem  fit.' 

This  petition  proved  successful,  and  we  now  pass  on  to  notice  the 
rise  and  progress  of  *  Williams  College.' 


*i* 


^    .m-^r:^^m 


CHAPTER   III. 

WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  FITCH. 


The  act  of  incorporation  changing  the  Free  School  into  a  College, 
under  the  name  of  Williams  College,  was  granted  by  the  Legislature, 
June  22,  1793. 

By  this  act  all  the  trustees  of  the  Free  School  were  made  trustees 
of  the  College ;  and  in  addition  to  them  were  added  the  Rev.  Stephen 
West,  D.  D.,  Henry  Van  Schaack,  Hon.  Elijah  Williams,  and  the 
President  of  the  College  for  the  time  being.  Gen.  Philip  Schuyler, 
Hon.  Stephen  Van  Renssalaer,  and  Rev.  Job  Swift,  were  subsequently  ~.^ 
elected.  The  charter  allowed  the  board  to  consist  of  17  members, 
including  the  President ;  empowered  them  to  fill  all  vacancies ;  to 
confer  the  usual  academic  degrees  and  doctorates  ;  and  to  hold 
property  to  the  amount  of  .£6000.  The  property  vested  in  the  Free 
School  was  also  transferred  to  the  College,  and  a  grant  of  $4000 
made  from  the  State  treasury,  for  the  procurement  of  a  library  and 
philosophical  apparatus. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  board  was  called  by  Mr.  Skinner,  August 
6,  1793,  (notice  having  been  previously  given  in  the  Stockbridge 
paper.)  All  the  trustees  were  present.  The  meeting  having  been 
organized,  Mr.  Fitch  was  unanimously  elected  President,  Rev.  Stephen 
West,  D.  D.,  Vice  President,  and  Daniel  Dewey,  Secretary.  A  com- 
mittee waited  on  Mr.  Fitch,  who  attended,  and  signified  his  acceptance 
of  the  office. 

From  the  records  of  this  meeting  we  extract  the  following  items : 
*  Voted,  That  Commencement  be  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  Sep- 
tember.' *  That  a  grammar  school  be  connected  with  the  college.' 
'  That  Mr.  Noah  Linsley  be  appointed  Tutor,  with  a  salary  of  ^65 
per  annum,  and  Mr.  Nathaniel  Steel,  master  of  the  Grammar  School, 
with  a  salary  of  .£60.'  *  That  the  salary  of  the  President  be  .£140, 
and  the  corporation  provide  him  with  a  house.'  *  That  each  person 
who  applies   for  admission  be   able  to   accurately  read,  parse,  and 


16  SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

construe,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  President  and  Tutor,  Virgil's 
JEneid,  Tully's  Orations,  and  the  Evangelists  in  Greek ;  or,  if  he 
prefers  to  become  acquainted  with  French,  he  must  be  able  to  read 
and  pronounce  with  a  tolerable  degree  of  accuracy  and  fluency,  Hud- 
son's French  Scholar's  Guide,  Telemachus,  or  some  other  approved 
French  author.'  '  That  Messrs.  Skinner,  Swift,  and  Noble,  be  a 
committee  to  counsel  the  President.'  The  thanks  of  the  board  were 
also  voted  to  Mr.  Noble  for  the  present  of  a  bell. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  it  was  also  voted,  *  That  a  committee  be 
appointed  to  procure  a  well,  and  prevent  the  rooms  from  smoking.' 
*  That  a  public  dinner  be  provided  at  the  next  commencement,  for 
the  President,  Trustees,  and  officers,  of  the  college,  together  with 
such  other  gentlemen  as  the  President  may  invite.'  '  That  Mr. 
Elijah  Dunbar  be  appointed  Senior  Tutor.'  *  That  the  Monitor  be 
allowed  for  his  services  the  sum  of  13  shillings,  and  in  future  an 
annual  stipend,  equal  to  one  quarter's  tuition.'  Hon.  Theodore 
Sedgwick  was  appointed  Professor  of  Law  and  Givil  Polity.  A  code 
of  laws  not  differing  materially  from  those  now  in  use,  was  prepared 
and  accepted  at  this  meeting.  j| 

In  October  1793,  Mr.  Fitch  commenced  his  duties  as  President, 
and  the  college  was  duly  organized  by  the  admission  of  three  small 
classes.  President  Fitch,  and  Tutors  Linsley  and  Dunbar,  constituted 
the  first  Faculty.  From  1795  to  1799,  Mr.  Samuel  McKay,  a  gen- 
tleman of  amiable  character,  and  a  good  scholar,  was  Professor  of 
the  French  Language.  Prof.  M.  resigned  in  1799,  and  since  then  the 
Professorship  has  been  discontinued.  Jeremiah  Day,  since  President 
of  Yale  College,  was  Tutor  from  1796  to  1798.  The  Academy 
continued  for  several  years  in  connection  with  the  college ;  it  was 
found  to  be  a  convenient  place  for  the  preparatory  studies,  and  students 
more  advanced  had  the  privilege  of  reciting  with  the  college  classes. 

The  President's  house  was  built  in  1794. 

At  the  time  of  the  establishment  of  Williams  College,  there  were 
already  four  other  colleges  in  New  England,  viz  :  Yale  and  Dartniouth 
Colleges,  and  Brown  and  Harvard  Universities. 

Under  the  influence  and  persevering  efforts  of  President  Fitch, 
Williams  College  increased  rapidly,  and  soon,  from  a  humble  begin- 
ning, was  raised  to  a  station  of  high  and  acknowledged  usefulness  and 
respectability.  The  first  commencement  was  held  on  Wednesday, 
Sept.  2,  1795.  Samuel  Bishop,  John  Collins,  Chancy  Lusk,  and  Dan 
Stone,  were  the  first  that  received  academic  honors  at  this  institution. 
Chancy  Lusk  took  the  valedictory.  The  second  class,  graduating  in 
1796,  consisted  of  six  members ;  the  third  ten ;  and  the  fourth  thirty. 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  17 

The  first  three  commencements  were  held  in  a  small  meeting  house, 
the  first  one  built  in  the  town.  This  was  found  to  be  so  small  and 
inconvenient,  that  the  Trustees  voted  to  hold  their  succeeding  com- 
mencements at  Pittsfield,  or  Lanesboro,  unless  the  town  would  provide 
them  with  a  more  suitable  place  :  but  before  the  next  commencement, 
measures  were  taken  to  erect  a  new,  and  more  commodious  building. 
Towards  the  expenses  of  this  building,  the  corporation  contributed 
one  hundred  pounds,  on  condition  that  seats  should  be  reserved  for 
the  students,  and  that  they  should  have  the  use  of  the  house  on  all 
public  days.  The  fourth  commencement  was  held  in  the  present  house, 
then  in  an  unfinished  state.  The  early  commencements  were  attended 
by  numerous  collections  of  people  from  the  vicinity,  and  from  a  distance, 
and  by  various  distinguished  and  literary  characters.  At  the  first  com- 
mencement, President  Fitch  delivered  an  able  and  popular  address  to 
the  graduating  class ;  but  this  practice  was  afterwards  discontinued. 
During  the  administration  of  Dr.  Grifiin,  it  was  resumed  again  and 
continued  for  some  years. 

In  January,  1796,  the  Legislature  granted  two  townships  of  land, 
which  were  sold  the  May  following,  for  about  $10,000,  and  the  avails, 
with  a  considerable  sum  beside,  amounting  in  all  to  $12,400,  were 
applied  to  build  East  College,  which  was  erected  in  1797.     It  was  a 
brick  building  of  four  stories,  one  hundred  arid  four  feet  by  ninety- 
eight.     It  was  convenient  for  students ;    contained  thirty-two  rooms 
-and  three  recitation  rooms ;  and  was  regularly  occupied  until  1842, 
*>when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.     With  a  portion  of  the  grant  from  the 
*' Commonwealth  at   the  time  of  its  incorporation,   a  small,  but  well 
•  selected  library  was  procured,  and  some  philosophical  apparatus. 

In  1795,  the  two  literary  societies  were  formed,  and  a  library  under 
the  name  of  the  Adelphic  Union  was  commenced.  A  catalogue  of 
the  college  printed  in  1795  contained  the  names  of  77  students.  The 
following  note  was  appended  :  *  Besides  the  above  members  of  college 
there  are  about  fifty  students  in  the  academy  connected  with  the  col- 
'  lege.'  This  catalogue,  according  to  Dr.  Robbins,  the  antiquarian,  was 
the  first  catalogue  of  the  members  of  a  college  ever  printed.  The 
same  thing  was  done  at  Yale  the  year  following',  and  the  plan  was 
subsequently  adopted  by  the  colleges  generally.  It  was  first  printed 
on  a  single  sheet,  but  afterwards  in  the  form  of  a  pamphlet,  and  con- 
tained the  names  of  the  Trustees  and  Faculty,  which  were  before 
omitted.  The  first  Triennial  Catalogue  was  issued  in  1799,  and  has 
since  been  regularly  continued. 

According  to  Dr.  Fitch,  the  expenses  of  the  Free  School  and  coK 
•lege,  from  1789  to  1800 were  as  follows  :  For  WestCoUege,  $11,700; 
3 


18  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

President's  house  and  land,  $2,400 ;  for  East  College,  $12,400 ;  for 
the  meeting  house,  $333  ;  library,  $567  ;  total,  $28,000.  The  funds 
received  for  the  same  time  were  the  Williams  fund,  $11,000;  from 
the  lottery,  $3,500 ;  subscriptions,  $2,000  ;  legislative  grant,  $4,000  ; 
two  townships  of  land,  $10,000  ;  total,  $30,500;  leaving  a  balance  in 
the  college  treasury  at  the  close  of  the  year  1799,  of  $2,500. 

For  a  series  of  years  after  its  establishment,  the  college  continued  to 
advance  with  accelerated  progress  in  reputation  and  prosperity,  stu- 
dents resorting  to  it  from  all  parts  of  New  England,  New  York,  and 
Canada.  And  such  was  the  rapidity  of  its  growth  that  in  1804,  nine 
years  after  the  first  class  graduated,  it  enrolled  upon  its  catalogue  144 
students.  In  1802,  the  whole  number  of  volumes  in  the  college  library 
amounted  to  over  two  thousand  ;  while  that  of  the  Adelphic  Union 
contained  375. 

Some  of  the  causes  that  contributed  to  the  early  prosperity  of  this 
college  were  that  the  necessary  expenditures  of  the  students  were  less 
than  elsewhere ;  its  retired  situation,  and  the  character  of  the  commu- 
nity, presenting  few  inducements  to  extravagance  or  dissipation.  The 
principal  means  of  instruction  in  all  our  colleges  at  that  time,  were 
the  personal  application  of  the  students,  and  the  recitation  of  the 
classes.  Professional  lectures  on  scientific  subjects  had  not  then  come 
into  fashion,  and  the  apparatus  for  illustration  was  poor  and  limited. 

In  choosing  Dr.  Fitch  for  the  first  President  of  Williams  College, 
(a  station  for  which  by  his  learning,  talents,  and  experience  in  teach- 
ing, he  was  eminently  qualified,)  the  trustees  were  united  and  happy ; 
and  that  they  were  neither  unwise  nor  disappointed  is  sufficiently 
evident.  In  his  hands,  and  under  his  care  the  college  soon  acquired 
a  celebrity  and  influence  not  surpassed  by  any  sister  institution  of  any 
period,  under  circumstances  no  more  favorable  to  success. 

The  following  statement  will  show  that  the  average  yearly  number 
of  students  graduating  during  the  twenty-one  years  of  President  Fitch's 
administration  was  greater  than  under  either  of  the  succeeding  Presi- 
dents, Doctors  Moore  or  Griffin.  The  whole  number  of  students 
which  graduated  under  President  Fitch,  amounted  to  460,  averaging 
nearly  22  annually.  The  six  classes  under  President  Moore,  contained 
90,  average  15  yearly.  Fifteen  under  Dr.  Griffin,  contained  311 ;  yearly 
average,  about  21.  The  ten  classes  which  have  thus  far  (1847)  grad- 
uated under  President  Hopkins,  have  contained  299 ;  average  nearly  30. 

The  following  extracts  from  some  of  President  Fitch's  letters,  will 
we  think  be  read  with  interest  in  this  connection  : 

*  January,  1796.  The  number  of  students  is  increasing  rapidly,  so 
that  we  are  already  in  want  of  another  college  edifice.     We  hope  to 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  19 

obtain  from  the  state  a  grant  of  two  townships  of  land  in  Maine,  which, 
if  obtained,  will  enable  us  to  erect  another  building.  At  present  we 
have  a  very  likely  collection  of  young  men.  They  are  very  studious 
and  orderly,  and  scarcely  give  us  any  trouble.' 

'  January,  1799.  Things  go  on  well  in  our  infant  seminary.  Our 
number  is  hardly  so  large  as  last  year.  The  scarcity  of  money  is  one 
cause  of  the  decline ;  some  leaving  through  mere  poverty.  But  our 
ambition  is  to  make  good  scholars,  rather  than  add  to  our  numbers  ; 
and  in  this  we  mean  not  to  be  outdone  by  any  college  in  New  England. 
Perseverance  in  the  system  we  have  adoptedj  will  eventually  give  repu- 
tation to  this  institution  in  the  view  of  all  who  prefer  the  useful  to  the 
showy.' 

'  June,  1801.     Our  college  is  prospering.     We  have  admitted  forty-* 
five  Freshmen  and  nine  Sophomores,  and  expect  to  make  the  number 
up  to  sixty  before  commencement.' 

*  January,  1802.  Our  Freshman  class  this  year  is  not  so  large  as 
usual ;  but  we  expect  it  will  increase  to  twenty-five  or  more.  A  larger 
number,  however,  are  professors  of  religion,  and  will  I  hope  make 
pious  and  useful  ministers.' 

*  April,  1802.  We  have  lately  had  trouble  in  college.  The  '^: 
judgments  we  drew  up  and  published  to  the  classes  respecting  their 
examinations  in  March,  gave  ofience.  Three  classes  in  succession 
were  in  a  state  of  insurrection  against  the  government  of  the  college. 
For  ten  days  we  had  a  good  deal  of  difficulty ;  but  the  Faculty  stood 
firm,  and  determined  to  give  up  no  right.     At  last,  without  the  loss  of 

a  single  member,  we  reduced  all  to  due  obedience  and  subordination. 
Never  had  I  occasion  for  so  much  firmness  and  prudence ;  not  even  in 
the  great  rebellion  of  1782  at  Yale.  Most  of  the  students  are  now 
much  ashamed  of  their  conduct.  The  present  generation  I  trust  will 
never  burn  their  fingers  again.  They  have  found  that  we  will  support 
our  authority.' 

March,  1803.  We  have  both  our  College  buildings  full  of  students. 
This  is  truly  encouraging.' 

In  the  year  1798,  when  our  country  resolved  to  resist  the  aggressions 
of  France,  and  pledged  the  support  of  government  by  various  addresses, 
one  was  sent  by  the  students  of  Williams  College,  with  the  approbation 
of  the  Faculty.  President  Adams  returned  a  polite  answer,  commend- 
ing the  patriotism  of  the  students,  and  spoke  in  flattering  terms  of  the 
flourishing  state  of  so  young  an  institution. 

In  1804  a  strip  of  land  of  no  great  value  was  granted  to  Williams 
and  Bowdoin  Colleges,  and  -  in  1805  another  township  of  land  was 
granted,  which  sold  for  $4,500,  and  also  one  in  1809,  which  brought 
nearly  |5,000. 


20  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

The  commencement  of  1807  was  a  mournful  occasion.  President 
Fitch's  eldest  son,  having  been  admitted  to  College,  died  the  evening 
before  the  commencement.  The  President  presided  at  the  exercises 
with  great  propriety,  and  the  next  morning  attended  the  funeral  of 
his  son. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  Trustees,  Sept.  1805,  it  was  voted  to 
break  and  discontinue  the  former  seal  of  the  corporation,  and  to  adopt 
a  new  one  with  the  following  device,  viz  :  a  globe,  telescope,  inkstand, 
and  pens,  below  a  wreath  of  laurel,  above  a  morning  glory,  with  this 
motto,  '  E  Liberalitate,  E.  Williams,  Armigeri.' 

In  the  year  1806,  a  professorship  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Phi- 
losophy was  established.  Mr.  Gamaliel  Olds,  formerly  a  Tutor,  was 
elected  to  this  professorship.  It  was  also  voted  at  this  time  to  discon- 
tinue the  Grammar  School,  on  account  of  the  paucity  of  students. 

Thus  far,  with  the  exception  of  the  disturbance  alluded  to  in  Presi- 
dent Fitch's  letters,  nothing  had  occurred  to  check  the  prosperity  of 
the  College,  or  to  cause  any  difficulty.  In  the  summer  of  1808, 
however,  some  disturbance  took  place  among  the  students,  of  which 
Professor  Dewey  of  Rochester,  then  residing  at  Williamstown,  has 
favored  us  with  the  following  account  : 

*  In  the  spring  and  summer  of  1808,  there  was  an  attempt  of  the 
Sophomore  Class  to  prevent  the  continuance  of  some  of  the  officers  of 
College  after  the  commencement.  The  students  supposed  the  Tutors 
to  be  elected  annually  ;  and  that  by  a  petition  to  the  Trustees  against 
a  re-election,  the  desired  end  would  be  secured.  To  effect  their 
object  they  enlisted  the  interest  of  two  members  of  the  senior  class, 
then  about  to  graduate.  So  much  was  said  and  done  by  these  two 
Seniors,  that  the  Faculty  obliged  them  to  make  some  acknowledgment 
of  the  impropriety  of  any  such  interference  on  their  part,  before  they 
could  be  permitted  to  perform  their  parts  at  the  Commencement,  and 
receive  their  degrees.  Though  the  Seniors  believed  a  change  of 
tutors  to  be  important,  they  were  sensible  that  it  was  not  their  part  to 
meddle  with  such  a  matter,  and  the  affair  was  settled  with  them.  The 
commencement  passed  off  pleasantly,  and  as  the  tutors  remained  in 
their  office,  it  was  supposed  the  whole  matter  was  settled ;  and  the 
students  returned  after  vacation,  with  the  intention,  as  they  said,  of 
going  on  in  peace  and  good  will. 

'  Professor  Olds  had  felt  that  the  students  were  too  much  disposed 
to  present  petitions  on  subjects  over  which  they  had  no  control,  and 
in  which  their  interference  was  entirely  improper.  This  practice  he 
wished  to  have  broken  up,  and  this  he  designed  to  effect.  He  felt  that 
the  tutors  had  been  injured  by  the  course  of  the  students,  and  that  the 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  21> 

Faculty  were  abused  by  it.  He  had  led  the  Seniors,  by  the  direction 
of  the  Faculty,  to  make  their  acknowledgment  in  the  case,  aiid  he 
expected  to  bring  the  class  more  particularly  concerned  in  the  petition 
to  do  the  same.  The  Faculty  agreed  on  the  course  to  be  pursued,  and 
the  President  and  Professor  Olds  presented  the  subject  to  members  of 
the  offending  class,  which  was  now  under  the  care  of  Professor  Olds. 
When  the  acknowledgement  of  the  wrong  and  the  renunciation  of  the 
practice  were  proposed,  each  individual  refused  to  put  his  name  to  the 
paper.  The  Junior  Class  was  now  therefore  in  direct  opposition  to  a 
measure  resolved  on  by  the  Faculty.  Recitations  were  suspended  in 
that  'class,  and  the  whole  college  was  in  a  state  of  high  excitement. 
The  expulsion  of  some  of  those  most  deeply  implicated  was  feared. 

*  When  the  state  of  things  was  reported  to  the  Faculty,  the  President, 
with  the  advice  of  one  of  the  Trustees,  refused  to  sustain  the  officers 
in  the  attempt,  and  disclosed  that  he  had  been  mistaken  in  the  facts, 
or  he  should  not  have  consented  to  require  the  Juniors  to  make  the 
proposed  acknowledgment.  He  took  a  stand  in  favor  of  the  Students, 
and  against  the  Professor  and  Tutors.  He  said  the  matter  had  been 
managed  by  Professor  Olds,  in  whom  great  confidence  was  placed,  and 
who  had  great  influence  with  the  Faculty  and  the  Students  ;  and  that 
Professor  Olds  had  come  to  conclusions  and  had  led  them  to  adopt 
measures,  which  the  true  state  of  the  facts,  and  the  feelings  and 
intentions  of  the  students  did  not  authorize.  He  therefore  told  the 
Professor  that  the  proposed  measure  was  not  proper  or  called  for,  and 
must  be  given  up.  ^' 

*  Professor  Olds  felt  that  his  honor  was  compromitted,  and  that  he 
could  not  hold  a  respectable  standing  in  the  eyes  of  the  students,  and 
that  he  must  be  sustained  or  leave  the  college.  In  a  few  hours  the 
resignation  of  the  Tutors  was  sent  to  the  President,  and  soon  after  that 
of  Professor  Olds. 

'  The  college  was  then  without  any  officer  except  the  President ; 
and  as  the  vacancies  could  not  be  supplied  immediately,  a  recess  of 
four  weeks  was  given  to  the  students,  and  they  returned  to  their  homes. 

'  A  few  were  disgusted  by  the  procedure,  and  took  dismissions  from 
.the  College.  At  the  end  of  the  recess  most  returned,  and  Chester 
Dewey,  John  Nelson,  and  James  W.  Robbins,  having  been  called  to 
the  tutorships,  the  remainder  of  the  year  was  employed  in  quiet  and 
profitable  study.  For  two  years  the  students  pursued  an  unexceptiona- 
ble course  in  all  things.     Order,  peace,  study,  and  good  feelings  ruled. 

*  Professor  Olds  felt  that  he  was  greatly  injured  by  the  decision  of 
the  President,  and  his  failing  to  sustain  him  when  the  trial  came. 
The  President,  whom  the  Trustees  judged  to  have  decided  correctly, 


22  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

felt  that  he  had  been  led  into  a  mistake  by  the  misrepresentations  of 
Professor  Olds,  not  as  intending  any  error,  but  carried  beyond  the 
facts  of  the  case  by  the  influence  and  strong  feelings  of  the  Professor. 
He  regretted  that  he  had  not  earlier  scrutinized  the  case,  but  believed 
he  had  now  taken  the  only  wise,  because  the  only  right,  course. 

'  Professor  O.  doubtless  misjudged  on  the  dishonor  of  his  situation. 
So  high  was  the  estimation  of  his  talents  by  the  students,  and  so  great 
his  influence  with  them,  and  so  strong  their  attachment  to  him,  that 
they  uniformly  declared  many  times  in  the  year  or  two  following,  that 
they  should  have  entertained  all  respect  and  regard  for  the  Professor, 
as  they  believed  he  had  erred  honestly,  and  with  the  best  intentions. 
By  resigning,  and  leaving  the  College,  he  lost  much  of  their  respect, 
as  it  seemed  to  charge  them  with  a  criminal  intention,  which  they  dis- 
owned. There  is  another  apology  for  Professor  Olds,  to  be  found  in 
the  fact  that  he  had  labored  to  support  the  Tutors  ;  and  as  they  could 
not  consistently  remain,  he  was  bound  to  share  with  them  the  results.' 

From  this  shock,  increased  by  exaggerated  reports  respecting  the 
extent  of  the  disorders  which  had  prevailed,  the  college  did  not  recover 
during  the  administration  of  President  Fitch.  The  Institution  was 
then  at  its  height.  The  rooms  of  both  buildings  were  fully  occupied, 
and  the  four  classes  then  on  the  ground,  produced  more  graduates  than 
any  successive  four  classes,  up  to  1834.  The  class  that  entered  the 
fall  after  the  disturbance  graduated  but  twenty,  while  the  four  suc- 
ceeding classes  together  numbered  but  eighty-nine.  This  was  owing 
in  some  measure  to  the  fact  that  other  colleges  had  in  the  meantime 
been  founded,  which  diminished  the  average  number  of  students.  It 
may  here  be  remarked  that  it  was  at  this  time  that  Gordon  Hall,  Sam'l 
J.  Mills  and  others,  began  their  eflbrts,  which  resulted  in  the  formation 
Qf  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  Mr.  Hall  graduated  in  1808 ;  S.  J.  Mills  in 
1809. 

In  1810  Mr.  Chester  Dewey  was  elected  to  the  professorship  vacated 
by  Mr.  Olds.  Ebenezer  Adams,  of  Exeter,  N.  H.,  was  also  elected 
Professor  of  Mathematics,  but  declined. 

In  May,  1811,  Woodbridge  Little,  Esq.,  of  Pittsfield,  one  of  the 
first  Trustees,  made  a  donation  of  $2,500,  for  the  education  of  talented 
and  indigent  young  men  for  the  Gospel  ministry,  and  at  his  death,  in 
1813,  increased  the  sum  to  $5,700 ;  the  interest  of  which  is  applied 
annually  to  the  above  purpose. 

In  February,  the  Legislature  granted  $3,000  per  year,  for  ten  years, 
from  the  tax  on  banks,  the  interest  of  one  fourth  of  which  constitutes  a 
fund  for  the  payment  of  bills  of  such  studejits  as  may  require  assist- 
ance. This  was  most  providential,  and  served  to  sustain  the  college 
during  the  troubles  which  afterwards  followed. 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  23 

In  May,  1815,  a  professorship  of  Languages  was  established,  and  Mr. 
Ebenezer  Kellogg  appointed  Professor.  At  the  same  meeting  of  the 
Trustees,  the  Prize  Rhetorical  Exercise  on  the  evening  preceding 
commencement  was  instituted. 

We  have  now  traced  with  perhaps  too  great  minuteness,  the  history 
of  the  college  as  far  as  the  year  1815.  For  twenty  years  had  Dr. 
Fitch  successfully,  and  with  distinguished  ability,  presided  over  its 
interests,  and  with  the  exception  of  Dr.  Manning  of  Brown  University, 
what  first  President  ever  retained  his  station  for  so  long  a  period  in 
this  country  ?  But  now  the  college  by  a  concurrence  of  circumstances, 
had  begun  to  decline.  Since  1808  the  institution  had  not  enjoyed  the 
reputation  and  prosperity  of  former  years,  and  notwithstanding  all  the 
exertions  of  the  President  and  Professors,  aided  by  the  counsel  and 
cordial  co-operation  of  a  judicious  and  active  board  of  Trustees,  it  still 
seemed  to  decline.  Dr.  Fitch  had  long  believed,  and  it  would  seem 
had  induced  others  to  believe,  that  it  was  desirable  and  expedient  to 
have  a  younger  and  more  popular  man  to  stand  at  the  head  of  the 
institution.  The  funds  of  the  college  were  small,  and  the  salary 
which  he  received  was  wholly  inadequate  to  the  support  of  his  large 
and  expensive  family.  And  in  addition,  he  could  not  bear  to  see 
this  object  of  his  affections,  which  he  had  so  carefully  nurtured  and 
watched  over  for  so  many  years,  droop  under  his  care.  Especially  he 
could  not  endure  the  thought  of  having  the  cause  of  its  decline  attrib- 
uted to  himself  Under  all  these  circumstances.  Dr.  Fitch  thought  it 
his  duty,  and  judged  it  expedient  that  he  should  resign.*  He  accord- 
ingly tendered  his  resignation  to  the  Trustees,  May  2,  1815.  By  per- , 
mission,  he  immediately  left  college  for  the  remainder  of  the  summer, 
his  salary  continuing  until  the  end  of  the  year.  In  his  absence,  Prof. 
Dewey  discharged  the  duties  of  President.  Before  leaving,  Dr.  Fitch* 
delivered  an  affectionate  parting  address  to  the  students,  which  in  the 
end  was  productive  of  much  good.  He  returned  to  the  college  in 
August,  presided  at  commencement,  inducted  Professor  Kellogg  into 
his  office  as  Professor  of  Languages,  and  then  resigned.  He  staid 
long  enough  to  receive  Dr.  Moore,  and  leaving  town  in  October,  was 
soon  after  installed  pastor  of  a  church  in  West  Bloomfield,  New  York. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  President  and  Board  of  Trustees  of  Williams 
College,  May,  1815,  the  following  vote  was  unanimously  passed  : 
*  Whereas   the   Rev.  President  Fitch  has  signified  his  intention  of 


*  The  attempt  to  remove  the  college  to  Amherst,  is  assigned  by  Mr.  Durfee, 
in  his  life  of  Fitch,  as  reason  for  his  resignation.    This  is  believed  to  be  erroneous. 


24  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

resigning  at  the  next  commencement,  and  whereas,  in  consequence  of 
the  state  of  the  funds,  the  corporation  has  not  been  able  to  give  him  such 
a  salary  as  his  station  and  expenditures  have  required,  voted,  that  there 
be  granted  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Fitch  the  sum  of  twenty-two  hundred  dol- 
lars, to  be  paid  in  one  year  from  the  time  of  his  resignation.'  This 
sum  was  cheerfully  paid  to  Dr.  Fitch  as  a  remuneration  for  his  long 
and  faithful  services  as  President  of  the  college,  and  was  esteemed  by 
him  as  an  act  of  generosity ;  while  the  Board  considered  it  as  an  act 
of  justice. 

Having  retired  at  the  age  of  sixty  from  a  life  of  so  much  care,  toil, 
and  activity  as  his  had  been.  President  Fitch  soon  began  to  experience 
and  exhibit  the  enfeebling  effects  of  age.  He  continued  however  to 
discharge  the  regular  and  active  duties  of  pastor  to  the  church  in 
Bloomfield  for  twelve  years,  when  he  was  compelled  by  his  increasing 
infirmities,  to  retire.  He  however  occasionally  preached  after  his 
dismission  until  within  a  short  tinie  previous  to  his  decease. 

In  the  summer  of  1828,  he  again  in  his  seventy-second  year,  visited 
Williamstown,  and  after  proceeding  as  far  east  as  Boston,  returned.  It 
was  his  last  visit  to  the  scene  of  his  labors,  and  was  a  source  of  much 
satisfaction  to  him,  during  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  died  at 
Bloomfield,  N.  Y.,  March  21,  1833,  aged  76  years. 

In  personal  appearance.  Dr.  Fitch  was  rather  below  than  above  the 
middling  stature.  His  countenance  was  grave  but  pleasant,  and  by  no 
means  austere.  His  appearance  and  deportment  was  always  gentle- 
manly and  dignified ;  though  sometimes,  through  his  great  modesty, 
not  marked  with  perfect  ease  and  elegance.  He  possessed  native 
powers  of  mind  of  a  high,  if  not  of  a  pre-eminent  order  ;  characterized 
by  solid  strength  rather  than  brilliancy,  and  capable  of  deliberate  and 
manly  rather  than  high-wrought  efforts.  His  memory  was  strong  and 
retentive ;  possessed  of  a  large  fund  of  useful  anecdotes,  vt^hich  were 
ever  at  his  command,  and  which  he  employed  with  happy  success  at  the 
recitations,  and  to  enliven  and  instruct  in  the  social  circle.  During 
his  presidency  he  was  extensively  known  as  a  man  of  solid  and  varied 
learning,  engaging  with  ardor  and  perseverance  in  the  investigation  of 
every  subject  to  which  he  turned  his  attention. 

He  possessed  the  faculty  of  governing  to  that  degree,  that  he  was 
revered  and  beloved  by  all  his  numerous  pupils :  so  much  so  that  all 
who  graduated  during  his  presidency,  or  had  any  connection  with  him 
otherwise,  invariably  speak  of  him  in  the  highest  terms  of  respect  and 
veneration.  He  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  cause  of  education,  and  was 
prominent  in  the  establishment  of  the  American  Education  Society  and 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Auburn. 


SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  25 

As  a  christian,  Dr.  Fitch  was  sincere,  devout  and  consistent ;  and 
no  one  could  be  in  his  society  long,  without  perceiving  that  his  mind 
was  strongly  imbued  with  religious  feeling.  'He  was,'  says  his 
biographer,  *  desirous  of  knowing  his  duty,  and  when  ascertained,  was 
ready  beyond  most  men,  to  perform  it.  As  a  preacher  his  sermons 
were  distinguished  for  their  plainness  of  style,  clearness  of  illustration, 
soundness  of  argument,  and  simplicity  of  the  gospel ;  while  his 
accuracy  in  rhetorical  composition  was  sometimes  carried  to  excess.' 

»  His  life  was  gentle  —  and  the  elements 
So  mixed  in  him,  that  Nature  might  stand  up, 
And  say  to  all  the  world,  this  was  a  man  !  ' 

In  closing  this  imperfect  sketch  of  the  life  and  character  of  the  first 
President  of  Williams  College,  we  feel  it  our  duty  to  say,  that  to  no 
one  does  this  College  owe  a  deeper  debt  of  gratitude,  than  to  President 
Fitch.  For  its  interests  and  welfare  he  labored  assiduously  and 
constantly,  and  by  his  efforts  it  obtained  rank,  character,  and  standing. 
Diligent,  faithful  and  active,  he  was  unwearied  in  his  efforts  to  promote 
the  happiness  and  welfare  of  all  confided  to  his  care;  faithfully 
maintaining  at  the  same  time  strict  and  healthful  discipline. 

Afler  his  decease,  his  manuscripts  fell  into  the  hands  of  his  son,  an( 
were  afterwards  destroyed  by  fire.      His  cotemporaries,  like  himself, 
having  nearly  all  passed  away,  little  save  the  general  incidents  of  his  life 
can  now  be  rescued  from  oblivion.     A  valuable  memoir  of  his  life  has,    .Jk' 
however,  been  published  by  the  Rev.  Calvin  Durfee  of  Dedham,  Mass., . 
to  which  we  are  indebted  for  much  of  our  information  respecting  him. 

On  a  large  and  beautiful  monument,  erected  over  his  grave  at 
Bloomfield,  is  the  following  inscription  : 

IN  MEMORY  OF 

THE  REV.  PRESIDENT  PITCH,  D.  D. 

WHO  WAS  BORN  AT  CANTERBURY,  CONN.,  1756; 

GRADUATED  AT  YALE  COLLEGE  IN  1777; 

TUTOR  IN  THE  SAME  EIGHT  YEARS ; 

PRESroENT  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE  TWENTY-TWO  YEARS; 

PASTOR  OF  THE  CHURCH  AT  WEST  BLOOMFIELD  TWELVE  YEARS. 

HE  DIED  MARCH  21,  1833.  , 

^©n©  Id)  ^i^^i»  #' 

*The  righteous  shall  be  in  everlasting  remembrance.' 
4 


^^v 


CHAPTER     IV. 

ADMLNISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  MOORE. 

Immediately  on  the  receipt  of  President  Fitch's  resignation,  May  2, 
1815,  the  board  of  Trustees  proceeded  to  the  election  of  a  President, 
to  supply  the  vacancy.  The  Rev.  Leonard  Woods,  D.  D.,  of  Andover, 
was  unanimously  elected  President,  and  Professor  of  Divinity ;  Rev. 
Zephaniah  Swift  Moore,  D.  D.,*  Prof,  of  Languages  at  Dartmouth 
College,  being  chosen  as  a  substitute.  It  was  voted  to  raise  the  salary 
of  the  President  from  one  thousand  to  fourteen  hundred  dollars.  Dr. 
Woods  declining  the  office,  the  Board  thereupon  notified  Mr.  Moore, 
who  accepted,  and  was  inaugurated  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  Sept. 
3,  1815.  His  address  on  this  occasion  has  been  highly  spoken  of  as  a 
finished  and  elegant  production. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  in  the  spring  of  1815,  the  following  vote 
was  passed,  probably  introduced  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Packard  of  Shelburne  : 
*  Voted,  that  a  committee  of  six  persons  be  appointed,  to  take  into 
onsideration  the  subject  of  a  removal  of  the  college  to  some  other 
part  of  the  Commonwealth ;  to  make  all  necessary  inquiries  which  have 
a  bearing  on  the  subject,  and  report  at  the  next  meeting.'  The 
committee  reported  in  September,  that  '  a  removal  of  Williams  College 
from  Williamstown,  is  inexpedient  at  the  present  time  and  under 
existing  circumstances.' 

This  appears  to  have  been  the  first  suggestion,  made  in  the  secrecy 
of  the  session,  and  apparently  without  any  serious  intent,  concerning  a 
removal  of  the  College  to  Connecticut  river.     It  does  not  appear,  as 


*  Zephaniah  Swift  Moore  was  born  Nov.  20,  1770,  at  Palmer,  Mass.  He 
graduated  at  Dartmouth  in  1793,  and  immediately  took  charge  of  an  academy 
in  Londonderry,  N.  H.  After  remaining  here  some  time,  he  studied  divinity 
and  settled  first  at  Tolland  Ct.,  and  afterwards  removed  to  Leicester,  Mass.  In 
1811,  he  accepted  the  appointment  of  Prof,  of  Languages  at  Dartmouth,  where 
he  remained  four  years.  He  was  elected  President  of  Williams  College  in  1815, 
and  on  his  resignation  in  1821,  became  President  of  the  Collegiate  institution  at 
Amherst,  afterwards  called  Amherst  College,  and  was  inaugurated  Sept.  1821. 
He  died  June  30,  1823,  aged  53. 


SKETCHES     OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  2!Z 

Dr.  Griffin  states,  (see  sermon  at  the  dedication  of  the  chapel,)  to  have 
been  immediately  divulged  or  thought  of  to  any  extent.  Very  little 
was  said  about  it  during  that  summer,  and  our  informant,  who  was  at 
that  time  a  member  of  College,  states,  that  so  far  as  he  knew,  no  one 
entertained  the  slightest  idea  that  any  serious  attempt  would  be  made 
to  remove  the  institution.  When  Dr.  Moore  accepted  the  presidency, 
in  that  year,  having  been  informed,  (probably  by  Dr.  Packard,  who 
was  the  originator  of  the  plan,  and  also  one  of  the  committee  appointed 
to  notify  Dr.  Moore  of  his  election,)  of  the  vote  taken  by  the  Trustees 
and  the  advantages  consequent  to  a  removal,  he  expressed  a  strong 
desire  that  the  Board  would  not  relax  their  efforts  to  effect  this  change, 
and  also  openly  declared  at  the  time  of  his  inauguration,  that  he  was 
convinced  that  the  College  would  never  prosper  in  its  present  location. 
;\  When  the  feelings  of  the  community  became  excited  afterwards  on 
this  subject,  Dr.  Moore,  in  defence  of  his  conduct,  assigned  as  a  reason, 
that  he  came  with  the  expectation  that  the  College  would  be  removed 
immediately.  This  may  be  so,  and  without  doubt  was  the  case,  but  at 
the  same  time  it  is  sufficiently  evident  that  until  after  Dr.  Moore  came 
to  Williamstown,  but  little  was  said  by  those  connected  with  the  College 
concerning  its  removal,  and  that  such  a  plan  was  thought  of  was 
scarcely  known  among  the  community  at  large. 

;<  Soon  after  President  Moore  entered  upon  his  duties,  he  began  to 
agitate  the  subject  publicly.  The  vote  taken  by  the  Trustees  in  the 
spring  was  made  known,  and  spread  like  wildfire.  Rumor  with  its 
hundred  tongues  went  through  the  country,  and  during  the  six  years 
that  Dr.  Moore  remained  at  the  College,  the  expectation  was  contin- 
ually kept  alive,  that  the  College  would  be  removed.  The  leading 
argument  employed  by  Dr.  Moore,  and  the  one  by  which  all  the 
Trustees  but  three  were  induced  to  vote  for  a  removal,  provided  the 
consent  of  the  Legislature  could  be  obtained,  was  its  retired  and 
sequestered  location.  It  was  supposed  that  but  one  College  could  be 
supported  irf  Western  Massachusetts,  and  it  was  urged  that  the  situation 
of  this  instead  of  being  in  the  corner  of  the  county  of  Berkshire, 
should  rather  be  in.  the  centre  of  the  adjoining  county  of  Hampshire. 

The  consequence  to  the  College  of  the  agitation  of  such  measures, 
was  obvious.  Few  would  attach  themselves  to  a  falling  interest. 
Many  immediately  left  the  College  to  graduate  elsewhere.  The  last 
class  that  graduated  under  Dr.  Fitch,  numbered  24.  The  first  under 
President  Moore,  but  16,  while  the  second  contained  but  7.  The 
whole  number  of  students  in  1819,  was  only  87. 

No  farther  action  was  taken  in  reference  to  this  subject  until  the  fall 
of  1818,  when  a  communication  was  received  from  the  Trustees  of 


28  SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

Amherst  Academy,  requesting  the  Board  to  unite  the  College  with  a 
proposed  literary  institution,  to  be  established  at  Amherst.  No  action 
was  taken  upon  this  communication  by  the  Trustees ;  but  from  this 
time  open  and  secret  movements  were  at  work  to  effect  a  removal 
of  the  College  to  Northampton,  or  some  other  place  in  the  county  of 
Hampshire.  President  Moore  especially  was  active  and  strenuous  in 
his  exertions,  and  by  his  influence  many  from  this  section  of  the 
county  were  induced  to  believe  that  the  College  would  never  prosper 
in  its  present  location. 

The  faculty  generally  were  in  favor  of  removal ;  Prof.  Kellogg  in 
particular,  who  was  afterward  ascertained  to  be  the  author  of  many 
able  anonymous  articles  in  favor  of  removal,  which  appeared  from  time 
to  time  in  the  public  prints. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Corporation  of  Williams  College,  held 
Nov.  10,  1818,  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted  with  slight 
opposition :  '  Resolved,  That  it  is  expedient  to  remove  Williams 
College  to  some  more  central  part  of  the  State,  whenever  sufficient 
funds  can  be  obtained  to  defray  the  necessary  expenses  incurred,  and 
losses  sustained  by  removal.  Resolved,  That  in  order  to  guide  the 
Trustees  in  determining  to  which  place  the  College  shall  be  removed, 
and  to  produce  harmony,  the  following  gentlemen,  viz :  Hon.  James 
Kent,  Chancellor  of  the  State  of  New  York ;  Hon.  Nathaniel  Smith, 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Connecticut ;  and  the  Rev.  Seth 
Payson  of  New   Hampshire,  be   a   committee,  to  visit  the  towns  in 

ampshire  County,  and  determine  the  place  to  which  the  College  shall 
e  removed ;  the  Trustees  pledging  themselves  to  abide  by  their 
decision,  provided  the  requisite  sum  be  raised.' 

The  Board  then  adjourned  to  meet  at  Pittsfield  in  May  next,  at  which 
time  and  place,  the  committee  reported  that  the  proper  place  to  remove 
to,  was  Northampton.  An  address  to  the  public  was  also  prepared  and 
printed,  setting  forth  the  reasons  for  the  intended  removal  of  the 
College,  and  requesting  donations  to  increase  its  funds,  and  to  promote 
its  prosperity  at  its  new  location,  viz  :  at  Northampton. 

The  following  reasons  were  set  forth  in  the  address,  which  was 
extensively  circulated :  *  That  since  its  establishment  in  1793,  other 
Colleges  have  sprung  up  about  it,  and  had  almost  wholly  withdrawn 
the  patronage  it  formerly  received  from  the  North  and  West.  That 
owing  to  the  want  of  support,  its  funds  have  become  so  reduced,  that 
the  income  falls  short  of  the  expenditures,  and  the  Trustees  for  this 
reason  are  unable  to  maintain  the  institution  in  its  present  state,  and 
enable  it  to  compete  with  other  Colleges.  These  circumstances  have 
induced   the  Trustees,  .after   mature  reflection   and   deliberation,  to 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  2^ 

think  a  removal  of  the  College,  to  a  situation  more  central  and  more 
convenient  of  access,  necessary  to  its  support  and  continuance  in 
usefulness.' 

A  proposition  was  also  made  to  the  Trustees  of  Amherst  Academy,  * 
requesting  them  to  unite  their  charitable  funds  with  the  College,  in 
case  it  was  removed  to  Northampton,  but  it  was  rejected,  unless  they 
would  change  the  location  to  Amherst.-  The  President  and  others 
were  instructed  to  petition  the  Legislature  on  the  subject  of  removal, 
and  request  leave  to  do  so.  The  reasons  brought  forward  in  this 
petition  were  substantially  the  same  with  those  in  the  address  to  the 
public.  This  petition  met  with  a  spirited  opposition  on  the  part  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town  and  county,  and  upon  their  own  responsibility, 
they  raised  a  subscription  of  $17,500,  which  was  laid  before  the 
Legislature,  and  which  was  to  be  paid  to  the  College,  in  case  it  should 
not  be  removed. 

This  subscription,  raised  against  the  wishes  of  a  majority  of  the 
Trustees,  and  which  they  could  not  refuse  without  a  fraud  upon  the 
Legislature,  was  made  payable  in  ten  years.  At  the  expiration  of  this 
time,  the  subscribers  were  called  on,  and  in  some  cases  payment  was 
refused.  So  much  dependence  had  been  placed  on  this  fund  by  the 
College,  that  it  was  found  impossible  to  do  without  it,  and  legal  mea- 
sures were  reluctantly  resorted  to.  One  case  was  carried  to  the  Su- 
preme Court  and  the  decision  being  in  favor  of  the  corporation,  the 
remainder  was  collected  without  difficulty.  It  was,  however,  unjustly  ^ 
made  the  ground  of  much  ill  feeling,  and  much  odium  was  thrown  on*w 
the  College  on  account  of  the  measures  pursued.  This  subscription, 
it  must  be  remembered,  was  procured  by  those  not  connected  with  the 
College,  and  was  one  of  the  principal  reasons  that  influenced  the  Leg- 
islature to  refuse  permission  for  removal ;  and  under  these  circum- 
stances, the  collection  of  this  sum,  guaranteed  to  the  College  by  the 
subscribers,  and  which  was  necessary  for  its  very  existence,  could  not 
have  been  otherwise  than  honorable  and  just. 

Nor  were  the  inhabitants  in  Hampshire  and  the  adjoining  counties 
inactive.  Fifty  thousand  dollars,  together  with  lumber  and  other  mate- 
rials for  building,  were  subscribed  in  a  short  time,  and  pledged  to  the 
College  in  case  of  removal.  So  far  indeed  had  matters  progressed, 
that  the  situation  for  the  College  had  even  been  fixed  on,  while  the  sub- 
ject of  removal  was  the  principal  topic  of  discussion  throughout  the 
western  part  of  the  State. 

s.  In  the  mean  time  the  Collegiate  Institution  at  Amherst  had  com- 
menced operations,  while  the  prospects  of  Williams  College  were  indeed 
gloomy.     It  seemed  to  be  upon  the  brink  of  ruin,  and  even  its  warmest 


•1 


30  SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

friends  were  in  serious  doubt  whether  it  would  much  longer  have  a 
name  and  a  place  among  the  kindred  institutions  of  the  land  :  regard- 
ing the  time  as  not  distant  when  ^  fuiV  must  be  written  upon  its  empty 
walls.  The  number  of  students  continued  to  decrease.  The  College 
did  not  support  itself,  but  drew  upon  its  funds  for  maintenance.  The 
few  students  that  remained  were  generally  in  favor  of  retaining  the 
College  at  Williamstown,  and  as  an  illustration  of  their  feelings,  the 
following  anecdote  may  not  be  inappropriate.  ^: 

Rev.  Mr.  Packard  of  Shelburne,  (who  from  the  first  was  very  active 
in  relation  to  the  removal  of  the  College)  had  on  one  occasion  attended 
a  meeting  of  the  Board  at  Williamstown,  and  in  a  speech  had  expressed 
himself  strongly  on  the  facility  with  which  the  College  could  be 
removed  to  Northampton.  This  coming  to  the  ears  of  the  students 
they  adopted  the  following  plan  to  expose  the  fallacy  of  the  Reverend 
gentleman's  reasoning.  He  always  came  upon  an  old  gray  horse,  and 
as  was  the  fashion  of  the  times,  with  a  huge  pair  of  saddle  bags  dang- 
ling on  each  side.  On  the  evening  previous  to  his  departure  from 
town,  this  horse  was  duly  tarred  and  sheared  of  his  tail  and  mane,  while 
his  master's  saddle  bags  were  well  filled  with  bricks  and  mortar,  taken 
from  West  College.  So  much  of  the  story  is  undoubtedly  true ;  for 
the  remainder  we  cannot  answer,  viz :  that  as  the  old  gentleman, 
astride  of  his  charger,  moved  off  the  next  morning,  from  among  the 
crowd  of  students  collected  to  witness  his  departure,  loud  cries  were 
heard,  *  The  College  is  in  motion  !  Packard  is  carrying  it  off ! ' 
•  The  petition  to  the  Legislature  was  laid  before  that  body,  and  afler  a 
long  and  vexatious  discussion  and  consideration,  in  consequence  of  the 
subscription  of  $17,500,  and  of  the  representations  and  remonstrances 
from  the  inhabitants  of  Berkshire  county,  permission  to  remove  the 
College  was  refused  to  the  Trustees. 

Strong  expectations  however  had  been  excited  in  Hampshire  county, 
that  there  would  be  a  College  there,  and  the  people  of  Amherst,  taking 
advantage  of  the  opportunity,  raised  large  subscriptions,  and  erected 
buildings  for  the  reception  of  students,  with  the  expectation  of  obtain- 
ing a  charter.  Dr.  Moore,  having  stated  his  intention  of  leaving  Wil- 
liams College  at  or  before  the  next  Commencement,  (1821),  a  proposi- 
tion was  made  to  him  to  place  himself  at  the  head  of  the  institution 
there.  He  accepted  their  invitation,  and  at  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees 
of  Williams  College,  held  July  17,  1821,  resigned  his  office,  to  take 
effect  after  the  next  Commencement,  and  sooner  if  they  desired.  * 

The  Trustees  then  proceeded  to  an  election  of  President  to  supply 
the  vacancy.  Rev.  Thomas  McAuley,  L.  L.  D.  Professor  of  Natural 
Philosophy  at  Union  College,  was  unanimously  elected.     The  Trustees 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  31 

at  the  same  time  published  a  circular,  announcing  the  election  of  Dr. 
McAuley,  and  their  determination,  (now  that  the  matter  of  removal 
was  settled)  to  stand  by  the  College  and  restore  it  to  its  former 
usefulness  and  respectability. 

Dr.  McAuley,  however,  declined,  as  well  as  Rev.  Chauncey  A.  Good- 
rich, of  New  Haven,  Professor  in  Yale.  The  condition  and  prospects  of 
the  College  were  now  disheartening.  Dr.  Moore  had  resigned  ;  while 
the  two  others  who  had  been  elected  did  not  feel  disposed  to  leave 
permanent  and  profitable  situations  elsewhere,  to  place  themselves  at 
the  head  of  an  institution  which  it  was  thought  must  soon  go  down. 

The  students  also  began  to  be  discouraged.  Many  left  on  account 
of  Dr.  Moore's  resignation,  and  went  to  Amherst.  The  members  of 
the  senior  class,  supposing  that  there  would  be  no  Commencement, 
had  about  made  up  their  minds  to  leave,  and  take  their  degrees  at  other 
Colleges.  Some  had  already  done  so,  and  the  rest  wavering,  had  called 
a  class  meeting  to  determine  what  to  do ;  when  two  individuals,  most 
nobly  and  with  a  determination  to  sustain  the  reputation  and  honor  of 
their  Alma  Mater,  addressed  the  class ;  declared  their  intention  of 
remaining,  and  of  having  a  Commencement ;  that  if  left  alone  they 
would  still  graduate  in  the  usual  manner,  and  perform  the  several  parts 
which  would  have  been  allotted  to  the  others. 

Influenced  by  such  a  spirit,  the  remainder  concluded  to  stay ;  the 
Commencement  came  off"  as  usual,  thirteen  taking  degrees.  Dr.  Moore 
presided  at  the  exercises,  which  were  well  attended,  and  immediately 
left  for  Amherst,  where  he  was  inaugurated  in  September.  His 
continuance  there,  however,  was  short.  He  died  within  two  years 
after  leaving  Williamstown,  in  the  fifty-third  year  of  his  age.  His 
remains  repose  in  the  burying-ground  at  Amherst,  beneath  a  neat 
marble  monument  erected  by  the  Trustees.  While  living,  he  greatly 
exerted  himself  to  build  up  Amherst  College,  and  bequeathed  to  it,  in 
his  will,  the  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars. 

In  regard  to  the  conduct  of  Dr.  Moore  during  his  connection  with 
Williams  College,  a  variety  of  opinions  have  existed.  We  would  not 
wish  to  be  in  the  number  of  those  who  judge  harshly  of  him,  for  we 
believe  that  in  whatever  he  did  he  acted  conscientiously,  and  endeav- 
ored to  promote  the  interests  of  the  College.  His  situation  was  in 
many  respects  delicate  and  embarrassing,  yet  we  think  it  evident  that 
if  Dr.  Moore  had  exerted  the  same  energy  and  zeal  in  sustaining  the 
interests  of  this  College  which  he  afterwards  displayed  at  Amherst,  its 
affairs  would  never  have  been  reduced  to  so  low  a  state.  If  the  location 
of  the  College  was  the  cause  of  its. decline  during  the  Presidency  of  Dr. 
Moore,  how  shall  we  account  for  the  uncommon  degree  of  prosperity 


32  SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

and  reputation  which,  notwithstanding  its  subsequent  embarrassments, 
it  has  since  enjoyed.  We  do  not,  however,  wish  to  dwell  upon  his 
failings,  if  they  were  failings ;  but  would  rather  conceal  them,  leaving 
to  each  to  form  his  own  opinions  in  respect  to  his  merits  and  his  deeds. 
In  personal  appearance  Dr.  Moore  was  prepossessing  ;  corpulent,  and 
modest-looking.  He  was  popular  with  the  students,  especially  at  Ami? 
herst,  and  in  all  his  intercourse  with  them  was  courteous  and  aifable. 
During  his  connection  with  Williams  College  the  people  of  Williams- 
town  and  the  vicinity  were  much  opposed  to  Dr.  Moore,  for  the  stand 
that  he  took  in  relation  to  the  removal ;  but  this  asperity  of  feeling  was 
in  a  great  measure  mitigated  by  their  estimation  of  his  talents  and 
acquisitions,  and  by  their  belief  of  his  sincerity  in  attempting  to 
advance  what  he  considered  to  be  the  highest  interests  of  the  College. 


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CHAPTER    V, 

ADMINISTRATION  OF  DR.  GRIFFIN. 

Dr.  McAuley  and  Prof.  Goodrich  having  declined  the  office  of 
President,  the  Trustees  then  made  choice  of  Rev.  Edward  Dorr 
Griffin,*  at  that  time  minister  in  Newark,  N.  J. ;  and  a  committee  was 
immediately  sent  to  notify  him  of  his  election.  Dr.  Griffin  had  for 
some  time  been  interested  in  the  College,  from  its  connection  with 
Missionary  operations,  and  coming  directly  on  to  meet  the  Trustees, 
arrived  at  Williamstown,  on  Commencement  day  about  noon,  and  took 
a  seat  upon  the  stage. 

„ .  It  having  been  intimated  that  he  would  not  accept  the  appointment, 
a  feeling  of  despondency  had  taken  possession  of  all  interested  in  the 
continuance  of  the  College,  but  his  unexpected  appearance  at  that 
time,  revived  their  hopes,  and  thenceforth  things  began  to  assume  a 
brighter  aspect. 

Dr.  Griffin  having  accepted  the  appointment,  he  was  inaugurated 
President  and  Professor  of  Divinity,  Nov.  14,  1821.     A  large  number 


*  Edward  Dorr  Griffin  was  born  at  East  Haddam,  Ct.  Jan.  6,  1770.  He 
entered  Yale  College  in  1786,  at  the  age  of  16,  and  graduated  in  1790,  with  the 
highest  honors  of  his  class.  He  first  turned  his  attention  to  Law,  but  being 
converted,  afterwards  gave  himself  to  the  study  of  Theology,  and  settled  at 
New  Hartford,  in  1796.  In  1801  he  became  pastor  of  the  first  Presbyterian 
church  at  Newark,  where  he  remained  preaching  with  great  success  until 
1809 ;  in  1808  he  received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Union  College.  The 
Theological  Seminary  at  Andover,  being  at  that  time  about  to  commence 
operations,  Dr.  Griffin  accepted  the  Professorship  of  Pulpit  Eloquence,  having 
previously  declined  a  call  to  the  Park  Street  church  in  Boston.  He  remained  at 
Andover  until  1811,  when  owing  to  repeated  solicitations  from  Boston,  he  at  last 
consented  to  go,  and  was  installed  Pastor  of  the  above  named  church  in  July,  1811. 
He  here  labored  with  great  success,  and  acquired  the  reputation  of  being  the 
most  eloquent  preacher  at  that  time  in  New  England.  Among  those  converted 
under  his  preaching,  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Taylor,  since  known  as  the  Bethel 
preacher,  who  was  at  that  time  a  rough  sailor.  For  various  reasons,  Dr.  Griffin 
was  induced  to  leave  Boston  in  1815  and  return  to  Newark,  at  the  invitation  of 
the  church  there,  where  he  remained  seven  years,  until  1821,  when  he  was 
elected  President  of  Williams  College. 


m 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 


of  people  were  drawn  together  from  the  neighboring  towns,  by  the 
interest  of  the  occasion.  Rev.  Dr.  Hyde,  the  Vice  President,  after 
making  a  short  Latin  address  to  the  President  elect  and  receiving  his 
answer,  and  after  the  blessing  of  heaven  had  been  invoked  on  the 
President  in  his  new  station,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shepard,  proceeded  to 
invest  him  with  the  office  in  the  usual  form,  and  committed  to  him  the 
instruction  and  government  of  the  Institution  in  a  serious  and  interest- 
ing manner. 

An  inaugural  address  was  then  delivered  by  the  President,  in  which 
he  traced  the  influence  of  the  higher  institutions  of  learning  upon  all 
the  inferior  schools,  their  connection  with  the  happiness  of  society,  the 
interests  of  civil  and  religious  liberty,  and  the  cause  of  vital  piety  in 
our  own  and  other  lands;  he  alluded  with  great  eloquence  to  the  exer- 
tions of  Mills  and  Hall,  which  led  to  the  establishment  of  the  American 
Board  of  Commisioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  and  waked  the  churches 
to  a  great  and  long-neglected  duty.  In  the  course  of  this  able  and 
elegant  discourse,  he  showed  how  all  the  principal  branches  of  study 
conduce  to  such  valuable  results.  This  was  followed  by  a  congratula- 
tory address  from  Prof  Kellogg  in  Latin.  A  sermon  was  also  preached 
by  Rev.  Dr.  Humphrey.  The  College  choir  of  singers  then  performed 
two  or  three  pieces  selected  and  executed  with  good  taste. 

Dr.  Griffin  had  precisely  the  kind  of  reputation  needed  by  the 
College  in  such  a  crisis.  Confidence  was  revived  ;  a  comparatively 
large  class  entered ;  and  the  College  continued  to  increase  in  numbers 
and  prosperity. 

The  Berkshire  Medical  Institution,  having  been  established  at 
Pittsfield  about  this  time,  was  placed  under  the  care  and  supervision 
of  the  College  ;  the  degree  of  M.  D.  being  conferred  by  the  President, 
at  the  regular  Commencements.  *  This  connection  was  dissolved  after 
a  few  years. 

At  the  Commencement  of  1821,  the  Alumni  being  desirous  of  doing 
something  to  aid  and  sustain  the  College  in  its  desperate  situation, 
formed  themselves  into  a  society,  to  be  called  the  Society  of  Alumni. 
The  object  of  this  society  is  perhaps  best  explained  by  the  following 
notice  calling  the  meeting  together,  which  we  extract  from  one  of  the 
newspapers  of  that  day  : 


Williams  College. — A  meeting  of  the  Alumni  of  Williams 
College  will  be  held  at  the  College  chapel,  Sept.  5,  at  9  A.  M.,  to 
consider  the  expediency  of  forming  a  Society  of  Alumni.  The  meeting 
is  notified  at  the  request  of  a  number  of  gentlemen  educated  at  the 
Institution,  who  are  desirous  that  the  true  state  of  the  College  may  be 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  W5 

known  to  the  Alumni,  and  that  the  influence  and  patronage  of  those 
it  has  educated  may  be  united  for  its  support,  protection,  and  improve- 
ment.    A  general  meeting  is  requested.  August  25,  1821 . 

The  meeting  having  assembled  pursuant  to  notice,  the  following 
preamble  and  constitution  were  adopted : 

'  For  the  promotion  of  literature  and  good  fellowship  among  our- 
selves, and  the  better  to  advance  the  reputation  and  interests  of  our 
Alma  Mater,  we,  the  subscribers,  graduates  of  Williams  College,  do 
form  ourselves  into  a  society,  and  adopt  the  following  Constitution  : 

Art.  1.  This  society  shall  be  called  the  Society  of  Alumni  of 
Williams  College. 

Art.  2.  This  society  shall  meet  annually  at  the  College,  at  the  time 
of  the  annual  Commencement. 

Art.  3.  An  address  shall  also  be  delivered  at  each  meeting  by  one 
of  its  members  chosen  for  that  purpose. 

Art.  4.  The  officers  of  this  society  shall  consist  of  a  President, 
Vice  President,  Secretary,  and  an  Executive  Committee  of  three 
members,  to  be  chosen  by  ballot  at  the  annual  meeting.' 

The  remaining  articles  specify  the  duties  of  the  officers,  &c.,  and 
are  of  no  great  interest.  The  first  President  was  Dr.  Asa  Burbank. 
Hon.  Elijah  H.  Mills,  a  distinguished  U.  S.  Senator  was  elected  first 
orator.  This  appointment  was  not  fulfilled.  The  first  oration 
delivered,  was  in  1823,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Woodbridge  of  Hadley,  which  was 
well  worthy  of  the  occasion.  Since  that  time,  the  annual  oration 
before  the  Alumni  has  seldom  failed.  This  was  the  first  association  of 
the  kind  ever  formed,  and  the  example  has  since  been  followed  by 
nearly  every  College  in  the  United  States.  Who  can  tell  how  great  the 
influence  of  such  associations  may  become  in  cherishing  kind  feeling, 
in  fostering  literature,  in  calling  out  talent,  and  in  leading  men  to  act, 
not  selfishly,  but  more  efficiently  for  the  general  cause,  through  partic- 
ular institutions  1 

We  have  now  come  to  a  most  interesting  epoch  in  the  history  of 
Williams  College.  Steadily  and  surely,  under  the  able  and  judicious 
management  of  Dr.  Griffin,  was  it  recovering  from  the  embarassments 
under  which  it  had  well  nigh  fallen,  when  misfortunes  again  gathered 
around  it,  and  it  was  again  doubtful  whether  it  would  longer  have  an 
existence  or  not. 

In  February,  after  a  long  dispute  in  the  Legislature,  a  charter 
was  granted  to  Amherst  College,  by  a  small  majority.  Great  efforts 
had  been  made  to  prevent  this  by  the  friends  of  the  College,  and  it 
had  been  so  often  used  as  an  argument  in  opposition  to  that  Semi- 


86  SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

nary,  that  two  Colleges  could  not  be  sustained  in  the  western  part  of 
this  State,  that  the  doctrine  now  came  back  upon  the  College  like  a 
refluent  wave,  and  it  was  generally  supposed  would  be  a  death  blow 
to  the  institution.  This  story  had  been  so  often  told  that  it  had  come 
to  be  believed,  and  the  inference  was  that  Williams  College  must  go 
down.  A  panic  seized  the  public  mind  and  extended  to  the  College. 
A  number  of  the  students  immediately  took  dismissions,  while  a  very 
small  class  entered  at  the  ensuing  Commencement.  The  whole 
number  sunk  from  120  to  80,  and  little  prospect  appeared  of  there 
being  any  increase.  It  was  now  seen  that  in  order  to  extract  the  seeds 
of  consumption,  which  had  lurked  in  the  College  for  eleven  years, 
something  must  be  done  to  convince  the  public  that  it  would  live  and 
flourish  on  this  ground.  It  was  believed  that  nothing  was  needed  to 
give  stability  to  the  institution  but  to  fasten  this  conviction  in  the 
public  mind.  It  was  evident,  notwithstanding  interested  reports  to  the 
contrary,  that  it  was  well  situated  for  a  healthful,  moderate  sized  College, 
in  one  of  the  most  beautiful  vallies  in  America,  in  a  region  perfectly 
healthy,  far  removed  from  the  temptations  of  cities  and  large  towns,  in 
the  midst  of  a  population  distinguished  for  morality  and  religion, 
where  living  was  as  cheap  as  in  any  town  in  the  United  States,  and 
where  sufficient  range  was  still  left  for  a  College. 

As  a  last  resort,  therefore,  the  Trustees  determined  to  raise  twenty-five 
thousand  dollars,  to  found  a  new  professorship  and  build  a  chapel.* 

Such  an  addition  to  the  funds,  officers,  and  buildings,  would,  it  was 
thought,  certainly  restore  confidence  in  the  public  mind  and  accomplish 
everything.  But  this  fund  was  to  be  raised.  Unless  it  could  be  done, 
and  the  institution  be  placed  on  a  stable  and  prosperous  footing,  two  of 
the  Professors  had  determined  to  leave,  a  third  was  apparently  sinking 
into  the  grave,  while  the  Trustees  disheartened  and  discouraged  by 
eleven  years  conflict  and  troubles,  would  have  given  up  in  despair  of 
doing  anything  further.  It  must  be  evident  to  every  one,  who  reflects 
on  the  situation  of  the  College,  that  the  crisis  had  come,  and  that 
its  fate  was  staked  on  raising  the  twenty-five  thousand  dollars ;  the 
subscription  being  void  unless  completed  before  the  last  day  of  Novem- 
ber 1826,  ten  months  being  allowed  to  obtain  the  same.  To  attempt 
to  raise  this  sum  seemed  hopeless,  and  the  most  practical  men 
pronounced  with  emphasis  and  concern,  that  in  the  embarassed  state 
of  the  country  it  never  could  be  done.  Notwithstanding,  Dr.  Griflin 
encouraged  by  a  powerful  revival  of  religion,  undertook  the  work,  and 


*Before  the  present  building  was  erected,  the  chapel  was  situated  in  West 
College,  south  end,  comprising  a  portion  of  the  second  and  third  stories. 


SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  -^ 

accomplished  what  no  other  man  could  have  done.  In  four  weeks  he 
raised  twelve  thousand  dollars.  The  fund  was  completed  ;  a  profes- 
sorship of  Rhetoric  and  Moral  Philosophy  endowed,  and  the  work  on 
the  chapel  immediately  commenced.  Such  is  the  history  of  the  darkest 
period  in  the  annals  of  the  College  and  which  we  hope  will  be  the  last. 
From  that  time  it  has  been  felt  that  the  College  was  permanent,  and  it 
has  been  going  on  side  by  side  with  sister  institutions,  doing  its  part 
in  carrying  on  the  great  business  of  education  in  this  country. 
,  In  1827,  Prof  Dewey  having  resigned,  Mr.  Sylvester  Hovey  was 
elected  in  his  place.  Mr.  Augustus  Porter,  was  at  the  same  time 
chosen  Professor  of  Rhetoric  and  Moral  Philosopy.  Prof  Porter  died 
in  1830,  aged  31. 

The  chapel  was  completed  in  1828,  at  a  cost  of  ten  thousand  dollars, 
and  on  the  second  of  September  of  the  same  year,  was  dedicated  by 
the  President,  Dr.  Griffin,  who  at  the  same  time  preached  a  sermon,  in 
which  he  gave  a  concise  history  of  the  College  from  the  foundation  to 
that  time.  In  1828,  Joseph  Burr,  of  Manchester  Vt.,  left  to  the  College 
by  will  a  legacy  of  one  thousand  dollars,  the  interest  of  which  was  to 
be  devoted  to  increasing  the  Library. 

In  1828,  Dr.  Emmons  was  appointed  Professor  of  Chemistry  and 
Natural  History. 

In  1829,  Mr.  Albert  Hopkins  was  elected  Professor  of  Astronomy 
and  Natural  Philosophy  vice  Prof  Hovey  resigned. 

In  1830,  Dr.  Mark  Hopkins  was  elected  Professor  of  Rhetoric  and 
Moral  Philosophy,  vice  Prof  Porter  deceased. 

In  1832,  a  measure  of  great  importance  to  the  College  was  under- 
taken by  the  Society  of  Alumni.  In  consideration  of  the  meager 
condition  of  the  Philosophical  and  Chemical  apparatus ;  it  was  voted 
at  a  meeting  held  September  5,  to  attempt  to  raise  the  sum  of  four 
thousand  dollars,  to  be  expended  for  the  benefit  of  these  respective 
departments.  Immediate  action  was  taken  upon  this  subject,  and  in  a 
comparatively  short  time  the  sum  (including  interest)  of  $4,511  was 
subscribed  and  paid.  This  sum  has  since  been  applied,  under  the 
direction  of  a  committee,  for  the  purchase  of  instruments.  In  the 
raising  and  appropriating  of  this  fund,  great  credit  is  due  to  Professor 
Kellogg,  for  his  unwearied  and  constant  exertions. 

In  1834,  Professor  Albert  Hopkins  was  sent  to  Europe,  to  procure 
the  necessary  apparatus.  Professor  H.  went  out  at  his  own  expense, 
his  salary,  however,  continuing  during  his  absence. 

A  Professorship  of  Chemistry  was  established  the  same  year,  Mr. 
Edward  Lasell  being  appointed  Professor  of  the  same.  At  this  time, 
for  the  sake  of  increasing  the'  funds  of  the  College,  the  respective 


38  SKETCHES     OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

officers,  with  a  spirit  of  generous  self-sacrifice,  voluntarily  agreed  to 
relinquish  a  portion  of  their  respective  salaries ;  each  Professor,  from 
the  small  salary  of  $800  giving  up  $100,  while  the  President,  with 
a  salary  of  $1400,  reduced  it  to  $1000.  Such  a  spirit  is  not  often 
&et  with  in  our  public  men,  and  is  worthy  of  remembrance.  It  is  to 
this  unity  of  attachment  and  feeling,  that  the  preservation  of  the  College 
during  so  many  and  successive  misfortunes,  (greater  than  which  have 
not  been  encountered  by  any  Institution,)  is  in  a  great  measure 
attributable. 

In  1834,  a  bequest  of  $1000  was  received  from  the  will  of  Hon. 
Ezra  Starkweather,  the  interest  of  which  was  to  be  applied  to  the 
assistance  of  indigent  students. 

Dr.  Griffin  continued  to  preside  over  the  institution  with  distin- 
guished ability  and  success,  till  the  spring  of  1833,  when  it  became 
evident  that  his  services  were  drawing  to  a  close,  and  that  the  infirmi- 
ties of  age  and  disease  were  gathering  upon  him.  From  this  time, 
however,  notwithstanding  occasional  attacks  of  paralysis,  he  continued 
to  exert  himself  for  the  College,  until  1836,  when  he  found  it  neces- 
sary to  resign,  whiclj  he  accordingly  did  at  the  meeting  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  in  August.  His  resignation  was  accepted  with  the  deepest 
regret  that  circumstances  rendered  this  step  necessary,  and  with  strong 
emotions  of  gratitude  for  the  services  he  had  rendered. 

As  soon  as  arrangements  could  be  made,  he  left  Williamstown  and 
the  scene  of  his  labors  for  ever.  On  the  morning  of  his  departure, 
(September  28,)  the  students  waited  on  him  in  a  body,  to  take  their 
leave  of  him,  and  presented  him  with  a  respectful  and  affisctionate 
address.  The  old  gentleman  was  much  affected,  and  with  overflowing 
feelings  replied  to  them  from  his  carriage.  Dr.  Griffin  returned  to 
Newark,  where  he  soon  after  died,  November  8,  1837,  having  been 
President  of  the  College  fifteen  years. 

In  personal  appearance,  Dr.  Griffin  was  tall,  over  six  feet  in  height, 
well  built,  large  and  portly.  He  was  rather  prepossessing  in  his 
appearance,  but  had  an  authoritative  and  commanding  look.  His 
person  was  uncommonly  suited  to  excite  attention,  and  awaken  respect 
and  interest.  His  towering  height,  expressive  countenance,  and 
gentlemanly  deportment,  all  together,  gave  him  such  an  aspect,  that  no 
one  could  once  see  him  without  a  distinct  recollection  of  him  ever  after. 
In  any  collection  of  men,  he  was  the  person  on  whom  the  attention  of 
a  stranger  would  be  first  fastened. 

Providence  appears  to  have  brought  Dr.  Griffin  to  Williams  College 
just  in  time  to  save  it  from  extinction.  The  obligations  to  him  are 
great,  not  because  he  showed  an  uncommon  tact  or  skill  in  managing 


SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  ^9 

its  "affairs  in  reference  to  education,  but  because  his  reputation  and 
personal  efforts  were  the  means  of  raising  it  from  obscurity,  and  giving 
it  character  and  standing  before  the  public.  His  talents  were  of  a  high 
order,  both  brilliant  and  profound,  and  exhibited  a  combination  of 
qualities  not  often  united  in  the  same  individual.  He  was  distinguished 
for  his  boldness  of  thought,  and  the  eloquence  with  which  he  expressed 
himself,  on  every  occasion.  As  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  he  was 
eminent  and  successful. 

The  following  inscription  is  taken  from  his  monument  at  Newark  : 

SACRED 

Ko  tl)t  picmots  of  ti)t 
REV.  EDWARD  DORR  GRIFFIN,  D.  D. 

WHO  DEPARTED  THIS  LIFE 
IN  THE  HOPES  OF  A  GLORIOUS    IMMORTALITY, 

NOV.   8,   1837, 

OKI  TTlHlEi  ^©71H1  T£I^^  @\F  m^  ^©1. 
'  They  that  turn  many  to  rigbteousnen,  shall  shine  as  the  stars  forever  and  ever  1 ' 


.'*; 
.*^'    * 


w 


yfefl^lL^^lJA:     k-i 


CHAPTER     VI. 

ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  HOPKINS. 

Upon  the  resignation  of  President  Griffin,  the  Trustees  unanimously 
elected  Prof.  Mark  Hopkins,  President  and  Professor  of  Moral  and 
Intellectual  Philosophy.  Dr.  Griffin  presided  at  the  Commencement 
exercises  for  the  last  time,  in  1836,  and  on  the  fifteeftth  of  September 
of  the  same  year.  Prof  Hopkins  was  inaugurated  President  of  Williams 
College.  The  ceremony  was  performed  in  the  chapel,  in  the  following 
manner.  The  record  of  the  Trustees  in  regard  to  the  election  was 
first  read  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Board,  and  a  charge  delivered  to  the 
President  elect,  by  the  Vice  President,  Rev.  Dr.  Shepard  of  Lenox. 
The  exercises  closed  with  an  inaugural  address  from  the  President. 

In  1838,  the  Professorship  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy 
was  abolished,  the  department  of  Prof  Hopkins  being  termed  the 
Professorship  of  Natural  Philosophy  and  Astronomy ;  while  a  new 
Professorship  of  Mathematics  was  at  this  time  established,  Mr.  John 
Tatlock  being  appointed  Professor  of  the  same. 

In  the  spring  of  1837,  the  building  of  an  Astronomical  Observatory 
(the  first  on  this  continent  designed  exclusively  for  such  an  object,) 
was  commenced  wholly  on  the  responsibility,  and  nearly  all  at  the 
expense  of  Prof  Hopkins.  The  original  plan  extended  only  to  the 
erection  of  a  small  edifice  which  might  serve  as  a  convenient  place  for 
deposit  of  a  valuable  Transit  instrument ;  but  it  was  thought  best 
afterwards  to  enlarge  the  design  so  as  to  accommodate  other  instru- 
ments, which  at  some  future  time  might  be  furnished.  The  building 
so  far  as  the  outside  was  concerned  was  finished  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year.  The  work  was  resumed  the  ensuing  spring,  and  in  June,  1838, 
the  instruments  having  been  mounted  and  arranged,  the  building  was 
dedicated  by  an  address  from  Prof.  Hopkins.  The  cost  of  the 
Observatory,  exclusive  of  the  fixtures  in  and  about,  was  not  far  from 
two  thousand  dollars ;  to  aid  in  defraying  which,  four  hundred  dollars 
were  subscribed  by  four  gentlemen  in  Worcester,  Boston,  New  York, 
and  Williamstown,  the  remainder  of  the  expense  devolving  upon  Prof 
Hopkins.  This  sum  has  since  been  partially  repaid  to  Prof  Hopkins 
by  the  Trustees,  and   in  honor  of  the  efforts  and  generosity  of  Prof 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  41 

Hopkins,  it  was  unanimously  voted  that  the  building    be    called   the 
*  Hopkins  Observatory.' 

In  the  summer  of  1842,  with  the  money  repaid  by  the  corporation, 
a  Magnetic  Observatory  was  also  constructed  and  presented,  together 
with  the  land  on  which  it  stands,  to  the  College  by  Professor  Hopkins. 
This  Observatory  was  likewise  one  of  the  first  in  the  country. 

On  Sunday,  October  17,  1841,  the  building  long  known  as  the  East 
College  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  fire  took  in  the  afternoon  while 
the  students  were  at  church,  and  was  communicated,  as  is  supposed, 
from  a  stick  of  wood  falling  from  the  fire  place  upon  the  floor,  in  a 
room  situated  on  the  North  Hall,  fourth  story,  and  on  the  west  side. 
When  first  discovered,  as  the  students  were  returning  from  church, 
it  had  made  such  progress  that  there  was  but  little  hope  of  saving  the 
building ;  in  addition  to  which  the  height  of  the  building  and  the  want 
of  any  adequate  supply  of  water,  combined  to  render  all  attempts  to 
extinguish  the  flames  abortive.  The  students  were  however  enabled 
to  save  most  of  their  furniture  and  books,  with  the  exception  of  those 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  fire. 

All  of  the  immense  concourse  assembled  showed  a  laudable  zeal  in 
^saving  property  of  every  description ,  but  the  means  taken  were  not 
always  adapted  to  the  end  in  view,  as  exemplified  by  the  throwing  of  a 
.valuable  cabinet  of  minerals  belonging  to  Professor  Hopkins  from  the 
third  story  windows,  as  well  as  looking-glasses,  trunks,  etc.,  while 
stove-pipes,  bedsteads,  and  such  articles,  were  carefully  carried  down 
stairs.  The  building  being  old,  the  flames  spread  with  great  rapidity, 
and  in  a  short  time  the  edifice  which  fond  recollections  had  rendered 
dear  to  many,  and  which  for  nearly  half  a  century,  unscathed,  had 
withstood  so  many  storms  and  partial  burnings,  was  soon  a  smoulder- 
ing ruin. 

While  the  south  end  of  the  College  was  burning,  the  Astronomical 
Observatory  was  at  times  in  great  danger,  and  was  saved  only  by  cov- 
ering the  combustible  parts  with  wet  blankets.  The  Theological 
library  was  entirely  destroyed.  But  the  loss  that  fell  with  the  greatest 
weight  upon  the  students,  was  the  destruction  of  the  rooms  belonging 
to  the  Literary  Societies.  These  apartments  had  been  but  recently 
fitted  up  in  this  building,  and  were  situated  in  the  third  story ;  the  Lo- 
gian  in  the  north-west  and  the  Technian  in  the  south-west  corner.  To 
each  was  allotted  a  space  occupied  by  one  large  study  room,  and  bi^d 
rooms  belonging  to  it,  together  with  the  end  of  the  hall  adjoining.  The 
rooms  were  plain,  but  at  the  same  time  fitted  up  with  great  taste  and 
elegance.  The  major  part  of  the  Libraries  and  furniture  was  removed, 
though  not  without  great  injury,  the  students  exerting  themselves  to 


"42  SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

the  utmost   to  save  all  that  was  possible,  and  not  deserting  their  posts 
until  compelled  by  the  increasing  heat. 

The  articles  saved  from  the  flames  were  heaped  promiscuously 
together  in  the  yard  and  green  in  front,  without  respect  to  ownership 
or  nature.  The  goods  were  afterwards  for  security  stowed  in  the  chapel ; 
for  although  the  articles  were  carefully  watched  in  spite  of  wind  and 
cold,  by  the  ladies,  who  generously  volunteered  their  assistance, 
there  were  some,  even  in  the  quiet  and  moral  village  of  Williamstown, 
who  were  willing  to  save  property  not  only  from  the  devouring  element, 
but  also  from  the  owners. 

The  fire,  though  severely  felt  by  some,  on  account  of  the  loss  of 
books  and  furniture,  did  not  break  up  the  regular  course  of  studies, 
even  of  the  Junior  and  Senior  classes,  for  more  than  one  day ;  and  the 
Junior  class  recited  the  regular  lesson  of  the  day  on  the  next  morning 
in  the  Philosopical  lecture  room.  The  students  by  the  activity  of  the 
faculty  and  the  kindness  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  were  without 
exception  furnished  with  comfortable  rooms  before  the  close  of  the  next 
day.  There  being  no  insurance,  the  loss  fell  heavily  on  the  College, 
but  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees  being  immediately  called,  active 
measures  were  at  once  taken,  and  in  a  comparatively  short  time  $9,000 
was  subscribed  to  aid  in  re-building.  A  petition  was  also  sent  to 
the  Legislature  for  aid,  but  for  several  reasons  was  not  successful. 
During  the  ensuing  spring  and  summer,  two  new  Colleges,  called  East 
and  South  Colleges,  were  erected  at  an  expense  of  $11,000. 

In  1842,  a  full  suit  of  the  minerals  of  the  State  of  New  York,  was 
presented  to  the  College  by  Dr.  Ebenfezer  Emmons  of  Albany. 

On  Wednesday,  August  16th,  1843,  in  accordance  with  previous 
arrangements,  the  Society  of  Alumni  celebrated  the  Semi-centennial 
Anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  College.  The  gathering  at  this 
anniversary,  of  Alumni  and  others,  was  large ;  every  college  build- 
ing and  house,  public  and  private,  was  crowded  to  excess.  His 
Excellency  the  Governor,  and  the  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  Com- 
monwealth, were  escorted  into  town,  together  with  other  distinguished 
gentlemen,  the  evening  previous,  by  a  band  of  music  and  a  long  train 
of  carriages,  and  gentlemen  on  horse-back. 

Agreeably  to  public  notice,  the  Alumni  assembled  in  the  Chapel 
at  8  o'clock  on  Wednesday  morning.  Here  were  assembled  men  of 
every  profession  —  Judges  and  Magistrates,  Pastors  and  Teachers, 
some  whose  locks  were  white  with  the  frosts  of  many  winters  and 
others  in  the  full  strength  of  manhood ;  some  of  whom  had  not  pressed 
the  hands  of  their  classmates  or  revisited  the  scenes  of  their  youth, 
since  the  parting  of  the  class  on  Commencement  day.     Curious,  pain- 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  43 

ful,  and  interesting,  was  the  recognition  of  venerable  men,  who  when 
life  was  bright  before  them  had  left  this  pleasant  valley,  to  return  after 
the  lapse  of  years,  when  the  visions  of  youth  had  departed,  and  the 
sober  realities  of  old  age  had  gathered  around  them.  Delightful  were 
the  congratulations :  a  hurried  review  was  taken  of  the  past ;  new 
pledges  of  friendship  were  given  and  received,  while  a  spontaneous 
and  universal,  though  silent  prayer,  went  up  to  Heaven  for  the  long- 
continued  prosperity  and  usefulness  of  their  Alma  Mater. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  Judge  Morris,  of  Springfield', 
who  as  President  of  the  association,  took  the  chair.  A  book  was  pro- 
cured, in  which  each  of  the  Alumni  present,  in  the  order  of  time, 
beginning  with  the  first  class,  enrolled  his  name,  year  of  graduation, 
and  residence,  each  being  read  off  by  the  President.  It  was  voted 
that  the  book  be  preserved  among  the  archives  of  the  society,  and  pre- 
sented at  the  next  half-century  meeting,  in  1893.  There  was  at  this 
time  only  one  surviving  member  of  the  first  class  of  graduates,  in  1795, 
who  was  not  present.  The  only  representative  of  the  second  class 
was  the  Rev.  Dr.  Robbins.  After  him,  Judge  Walker  of  Lenox,  of 
the  class  of  1798 ;  Rev.  Dr.  Fisher  of  Albany,  and  William  Patrick 
of  Canterbury,  Conn.,  of  the  class  of  1799;  Caleb  Knight  of  Wor- 
thington,  Thomas  Day  of  Hartford,  Rev.  Jared  Curtiss  *  of  Charles- 
town,  Mass.,  John  Dickinson  of  Amherst,  of  the  class  of  1800  ;  Judge 
Morris,  of  Springfield,  1801 ;  Lieutenant  Governor  Childa,  and  J.  W. 
Robbins,  1802. 

After  the  reading  of  the  names  by  the  President,  the  society 
proceeded  to  the  election  of  officers  for  the  ensuing  year.  Judge 
Betts  of  New  York,  was  unanimously  elected  President.  At  10 
o'clock  a  procession  was  formed  in  the  following  order  :  Graduates  of 
this  and  other  colleges,  in  the  order  of  their  graduation  ;  Trustees  and 
Faculty  of  the  College ;  strangers  and  undergraduates ;  and  proceeded 
to  the  church,  which  was  filled  to  overflowing.  The  exercises  con- 
sisted of  addresses  by  President  Hopkins,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Robbins, 
of  the  class  of  1796,  a  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Edwards,  followed 
by  the  benediction  by  Rev.  Dr.  Fisher,  of  the  class  of  1799.  The 
address  of  the  President  occupied  the  attention  of  the  audience  for 
nearly  an  hour  and  a  half,  and  was  marked  by  strength  and  origin- 

*Mr.  Curtiss  being  Chaplain  of  the  Charlestown  Prison,  was  introduced  to 
the  audience  as  the  only  one  of  the  Alumni  who  was  known  to  have  been  in 
State  Prison ;  and  he  had  been  there  eighteen  years,  and  did  not  blush  to  tell  it. 
Some  one  suggesting  that  the  presence  of  the  Governor  rendered  it  a  favorable 
time  to  apply  for  a  pardon,  the  Governor  remarked  that  it  would  be  impossible 
to  let  Mr.  Curtiss  out  so  long  as  he  continued  his  present  course  of  conduct. 


44  SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS     COLLEGE. 

ality  of  thought,  and  beauty  and  elegance  of  language.  So  touching 
and  true  were  some  of  his  allusions,  in  awakening  emotions  and 
recollections  of  the  past,  that  the  eyes  of  many  unaccustomed  to  weep 
were  suffused  with  tears.  After  welcoming  the  Alumni  in  his  own 
name  and  in  that  of  their  venerated  Alma  Mater,  to  her  quiet  seats,  to 
that  green  spot  in  the  memory  of  the  past,  to  these  familiar  scenes, 
these  remembered  walks,  to  the  sound  of  that  bell  not  unwelcome  now, 
to  these  circling  and  unchanged  mountains,  and  the  scenery  unsur- 
passed, he  thus  briefly  reviewed  the  changes  that  had  passed  since  the 
founding  of  the  College  : 

*  Fifty  years !  What  changes  do  these  words  suggest !  Some  of 
them  occurring  in  those  ordinary  and  ever-repeated  movements  of 
nature  which  return  upon  themselves,  and  some  in  that  onward  march 
of  things  which  is  made  known  only  as  the  scroll  of  Divine  Providence 
is  unrolled.  Fifty  years !  so  many  times  has  the  verdure  of  spring 
been  seen  to  brighten  this  valley,  and  to  creep  up  the  sides  of  these 
mountains  ;  so  many  times  have  their  tops  slept  in  the  sunlight  of  the  ' 
summer  noon  ;  so  many  times  have  they  put  on  the  gorgeous  robes  of 
autumn,  and  been  swept  bare,  and  rested  in  the  embrace  of  winter. 
These  changes  have  passed  upon  them,  but  they  are  still  the  same/' 
Not  so  those  who  have  looked  upon  them.  Of  those  who  were  in 
active  life  at  the  commencement  of  this  period,  but  few,  if  any,  remain. 
He  that  was  then  an  infant  clinging  to  his  mother's  bosom,  is  now  a 
man  with  gray  hairs  upon  him,  and  his  children  grown  up  around  him. 
In  the  meantime,  with  the  regularity  of  the  seasons,  there  has  come  the 
Senior  Examination,  and  then  the  Commencement,  with  its  greetings, 
and  partings,  and  wide  dispersion  ;  with  its  gathered  crowd  that  has 
come  in  like  the  rush  of  a  brook  after  a  shower,  and  has  again  dispersed, 
leaving  these  streets  solitary  and  quiet.  During  this  time  more  than  a  - 
thousand  young  men  have  received  the  honors  of  this  Institution. 
Here  they  have  been  agitated  with  hopes  and  fears,  and  have  shared 
the  pleasures  and  perils  of  this  miniature  world.  From  this  retreat 
they  have  looked  out  upon  the  ocean  they  were  to  sail,  and  have 
gathered  strength  and  skill  for  the  voyage.  Ah !  who  can  tell  how^ 
many  anxious  thoughts,  how  many  hopes  and  fears  of  parents,  how 
many  fervent  prayers  have  clustered  round,  and  ascended  for  all  these  ! 
During  this  time  too,  the  heads  of  the  three  venerable  men  who  have 
presided  over  the  institution,  have  been  laid  low.  Fitch,  and  Moore, 
and  Griffin,  whose  voices  have  been  so  often  heard  in  this  place,  and 
were  once  so  familiar  to  many  of  you,  where  are  they  ! ' 

After  noticing  the  changes  that  had  taken  place  during  this  time,  ili^ 
this  valley  and  in  the  world,  he  passed  on  to  the  subject  of  his  discourse^ 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  45 

which  was  the  Law  of  Progress  of  the  race,  and  the  connection  of 
this  College  with  the  mighty  movements  of  the  last  fifty  years.  The 
concluding  portion  of  the  address  was  as  follows : 

*  Brethren  Alumni,  you  have  come  up  at  the  call  of  your  committee, 
to  celebrate  this  semi-centennial  anniversary.  You  have  come,  but 
our  number  is  not  all  here.  Many  whose  hearts  are  with  us,  are 
detained  by  business,  or  prevented  by  distance ;  but  many,  too,  are 
where  no  call  of  ours  could  reach  them.  Some  rest  beneath  the  soil  of 
their  own  New  England ;  some  beneath  the  prairies  of  the  far  West ; 
some  are  with  Mills  in  his  ocean  bed,  and  some  slumber  with  Hall  and 
Richards,  and  my  own  beloved  classmate  and  associate  Tutor,  the 
beloved  Hervey,  *  on  India's  coral  strand.' 

*  Along  the  earlier  years  of  our  catalogue,  the  stars  have  gathered 
thickly.  In  all,  217  are  known  to  have  terminated  their  earthly  career. 
And  those  stars  will  continue  thus  to  gather,  as,  one  by  one,  we  too 
go  down  to  the  tomb.  When  another  half  century  is  passed,  and  the 
call  shall  go  forth  for  the  centennial  gathering,  we  shall  not  hear  it. 
Possibly  indeed,  as  we  now  venerate  the  age,  and  are  to  be  instructed 
by  the  wisdom  of  one  who  was  within  one  year  of  the  very  earliest  of 
the  Alumni,  so  those  who  shall  be  gathered  then,  may  hear  the  voice 
of  one  whose  words  shall  fall  with  weight,  as  from  the  height  of  these 
earlier  times;  possibly  they  may  listen  to  one  who  now  hears  me.  But 
long  before  that  time,  the  most  of  us  will  have  done  what  we  have  to 
do  for  the  weal  or  the  wo  of  man.  The  impressions  which  we  choose  to 
make  in  the  yielding  materials  of  time,  will,  before  that,  have  been  made, 
and  have  become  set  in  the  eternal  adamant  of  the  past.  What  then 
remains  to  us  in  this  period  of  the  birth-throes  of  coming  wonders,  but 
to  meet  our  responsibilities  as  patriots,  as  scholars,  as  christians,  as  the 
Alumni  of  an  institution  where  the  fire  of  a  benevolence  practically 
embracing  the  world  was  first  kindled  in  this  country,  and  upon  whose 
altars  that  fire  has  never  gone  out  1  Let  us  then  throw  ourselves  upon 
the  tide  of  this  great  movement  —  the  advancing  tide  of  Christian 
progress  —  which  we  trust  is  to  rise,  and  swell,  and  flow  over  the  whole 
earth.  We  are  here  to-day  to  build  up  not  merely  local  or  sectional 
interest.  We  have,  indeed,  our  personal  feelings,  we  have  associations 
dear  to  us,  connected  with  this  spot.  But  there  are  higher  considera- 
tions than  these,  and  we  would  do  nothing,  and  ask  nothing  for  this 
institution,  except  as  it  may  be,  and  ought  to  be,  in  its  place,  one  of  the 
grand  instrumentalities  through  which  we  can  labor  most  effectually 
for  the  highest  good  of  man.  As  such  we  cherish  it.  As  such  we 
commit  it  to  th€  guardian  care  of  Him  who  has  hitherto  watched  over 
it.     As  such  we  hope  to  see  its  influence  expanding  as  a  seat  of  all 


46  SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

liberal  culture,  but  especially  as  connected  with  the  great  cause  of 
Christian  benevolence,  till  those  plans  and  movements  vv^hich  originated 
here  shall  be  consummated,  and  they  shall  not  teach  any  longer  every 
man  his  brother,  saying,  *  Know^  the  Lord  ;  for  all  shall  know  him  from 
the  least  to  the  greatest.' 

Rev.  Dr.  Robbins  of  Hartford,  then  pronounced-a  truly  original  and 
elaborate  address,  occupying  about  two  hours  in  delivery,  in  which  he 
gave  a  brief  sketch  of  the  history  of  the  College,  accompanied  with 
many  well  digested  thoughts  in  relation  to  the  obligations  of  students. 

The  services  being  concluded,  the  Alumni,  invited  guests,  and  others 
repaired  to  the  College  green,  where  under  a  building  erected  for  the 
occasion,  a  sumptuous  and  elegant  collation  was  prepared.  After 
having  feasted  liberally,  the  intellectual  repast  was  again  renewed  in 
numerous  and  spirited  addresses.  Judge  Betts  of  New  York  led  the 
way,  by  a  glowing  description  of  the  advantages  of  this  institution,  and 
the  benefits  conferred  by  it,  not  only  on  individuals,  but  also  upon  the 
community  at  large,  and  in  concluding  called  upon  His  Excellency 
Governor  Morton.  The  Governor  responded  in  a  very  happy  speech, 
which  was  received  with  the  liveliest  applause.  He  was  followed 
by  Professor  Dewey  of  Rochester,  New  York,  Lieutenant  Governor 
Childs  of  Pittsfield,  Judge  Dewey  of  Northampton,  Rev.  Dr.  Nelson 
of  Leicester,  Rev.  Dr.  Edwards  of  Andover,  Hon.  Emory  Washburn, 
Rev.  Dr.  Brigham,  Rev.  J.  N.  Danforth,  Erastus  Benedict,  Esq.,  and 
many  others,  all  Alumni.  The  remarks  of  these  gentlemen  were  cal- 
culated to  awaken  good  feeling,  revive  old  associations,  and  excitenew 
hopes.  The  company,  increased  and  enlivened  by  the  presence  of  a 
large  number  of  ladies,  continued  in  this  delightful  interchange  of 
sentiment  until  the  shades  of  evening  suggested  the  necessity  of 
retiring.  The  usual  Commencement  exercises  took  place  on  the 
following  day. 

In  1844-5  Amos  Lawrence,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  made,  at  different 
times,  several  munificent  donations,  amounting  in  all  to  over  $20,000. 
With  a  portion  of  the  above  sum,  a  Professorship  has  been  founded, 
and  which,  in  honor  of  Mr.  Lawrence,  has  been  styled  The  Lawrence 
Professorship  of  Languages.  In  addition  to  his  repeated  gifts,  Mr. 
Lawrence  has  also  enriched  the  College  Library  by  numerous  costly 
and  valuable  contributions. 

In  August  of  the  same  year.  Professor  Kellogg  resigned  his  office  of 
Professor  of  Languages,  having  been  unable  for  some  time  past,  on 
account  of  ill  health,  to  attend  to  all  his  College  duties.  He  died  at 
Williamstown,  October,  1846,  having  been  connected  with  the  College 
for  a  period  of  30  years. 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  47 

In  1845,  Professor  Tatlock  was  appointed  Professor  of  Languages, 
Mr.  John  Darby  of  Georgia,  being  appointed  Professor  of  Mathematics. 

The  old  Laboratory  being  inconvenient,  a  new  and  commodious 
building  was  erected  at  this  time,  and  the  chemical  apparatus  greatly 
enlarged. 

In  1846,  Dr.  Shepard,  long  Vice  President,  and  a  firm  friend  of  the 
College,  died  at  Lenox. 

The  same  year,  Professor  Darby  having  resigned,  Professor  TatloclP 
was  appointed  Professor  of  Mathematics,  and  Rev.  Nathaniel  H.  Griffin 
elected  Lawrence  Professor  of  Languages.  The  same  year,  Mr. 
Lawrence  having  made  a  donation  of  $6,000,  a  library  building  was 
erected,  of  octagonal  form,  and  situated  upon  a  lot  adjoining  East  and 
South  Colleges.  By  vote  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  this  building  is 
•called  '  Lawrence  Hall,'  in  honor  of  its  philanthropic  and  generous 
founder.  For  the  further  accommodation  of  students,  a  new  college 
building  is  to  be  erected,  (1847)  on  a  lot  south-east  of  West  College. 
A  botanical  garden,  and  the  erection  of  a  conservatory,  are  also 
contemplated. 

We  have  now  traced  the  history  of  Williams  College  from  its  origin, 
through  the  administrations  of  its  successive  Presidents,  to  the  present 
time.  Fifty-four  years  have  elapsed  since  President  Fitch  first  assumed 
the  care  and  government  of  the  infant  institution.  It  came  into  exis- 
tence at  the  commencement  of  a  new  era,  when  society  was  beginning 
to  advance,  and  was  experiencing  new  views  concerning  man's  nature 
and  his  rights. 

In  effecting  the  many  changes  that  have  since  taken  place,  in 
swelling  the  mighty  movement  of  the  last  fifty  years,  we  claim  that 
Williams  College,  obscure  as  she  has  indeed  been  to  many,  has  done 
something,  even  much.  We  claim  as  its  great  distinction,  that  it  was 
here  and  through  its  agency,  that  American  Missions  had  their  origin. 
We  claim  for  it  the  honor  of  originating  the  first  Society  of  Alumni ; 
the  founding  of  the  first  Astronomical  Observatory ;  and  the  formation 
of  the  first  Horticultural  and  Landscape  Gardening  Association,  in 
this  country. 

The  number  of  her  sons  is  not  large,  but  the  proportion  of  them  who 
have  been  men  high  in  office,  influence,  and  honor,  is  not  small.  The 
whole  number  of  graduates,  up  to  1846,  is  1192.  Many  of  these 
would  never  have  been  educated  had  it  not  been  for  Williams  College. 
In  the  words  of  another,  '  embosomed  among  the  mountains,  it  has 
exerted  a  suggestive  power,  and  called  out  many  such  men  as  become 
most  useful,  when  educated.  They  have  come  from  the  yeomanry  of 
the  country,  from  the  plough  and  workshop,  with  clear  heads  and  firm 


48  SKETCHES     OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

nerves,  industrious  habits,  and  unperverted  tastes,  in  need,  it  may  be, 
of  polish,  but  susceptible  of  the  highest.  They  have  come  because  they 
have  felt  high  impulses  struggling  within  them,  and  have  made  their 
own  way.  They  are  intellectually,  the  working  men  of  the  land, 
energetic,  practical  men,  whose  influence  has  been,  and  is,  extensively 
felt.  It  is  probably  by  bringing  forward  such  men,  as  teachers,  as 
ministers,  as  practical  men  in  every  profession,  and  diffusing  in  society 
the  leaven  of  their  influence,  that  this  college  has  done  most  good.' 

Of  the  whole  number  of  graduates,  nearly  one  half  have  been  or  will 
be  ministers  of  the  gospel.  About  300  are  dead.  Of  this  number, 
five  have  been  Chief  Justices  of  States  ;  three,  Presidents  of  Colleges ; 
four  U.  S.  Senators ;  forty-one  U.  S.  Representatives ;  twenty-five  State 
Senators,  and  Judges  of  Probate  ;  nine,  Professors  of  Medical  Colleges  ; 
twenty-six.  Professors  in  other  Colleges  ;  two,  Lieut.  Governors  ;  seven, 
U.  S.  District  Court  Judges ;  four.  Professors,  and  one.  President  of 
Theological  Seminaries  ;  and  four.  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court.  In 
stating  this  proportion,  it  should  be  remembered  that  none  of  the 
above  probably  graduated  within  the  last  ten  years,  the  number  for 
which  time,  has  been  greater  than  at  any  former  consecutive  period. 

The  present  condition  of  the  College  is  eminently  prosperous,  and 
we  do  not  hesitate  to  say,  that  under  the  government  and  care  of  the 
present  faculty  of  working  men,  and  with  the  present  and  continually 
increasing  advantages  and  facilities  for  instruction,  as  good  an  educa- 
tion can  be  obtained  here  as  at  any  other  Institution  in  the  country. 

In  reflecting  on  its  past  history,  on  what,  with  scanty  means,  and 
even  struggling  at  times,  for  its  very  existence,  Williams  College  has 
done,  we  reasonably  anticipate  that  with  increased  advantages,  a  high 
and  glorious  career  of  usefulness  and  prosperity  is  yet  reserved  for  it. 
'  Semper  honor,  nomenque  suum,  laudesque  manebunt.' 


I- 


(  PART  II. 

k   WIELIA'MS   COLLEGE  AS   IT  IS 


1847. 


TEUSTEES. 


Rev.  mark  HOPKINS,  D.  D. 

Rev.  timothy  MATHER  COOLEY,  D.  D. 

Hon.  CHARLES  AUGUSTUS  DEWEY,  LL.  D. 

Hon.  DAVID  BUEL. 

DANIEL  NOBLE  DEWEY,  Esq. 

Rey.  EMERSON  DAVIS. 

Hon.  WILLIAM  PORTER. 

Rev.  HORATIO  N.  BRINSMADE,  D.  D. 

HENRY  LYMAN  SABIN,  M.  D. 

CHARLES  STODDARD,  ESQ. 

Rev.  THOMAS  ROBBINS,  D.  D. 

Hon.  EMORY  WASHBURN. 

Hon.  GEORGE  N.  BRIGGS,  LL.  D. 

Rev.  JOHN  TODD,  D.  D. 

Rev.  ABSALOM  PETERS,  D,  D. 


FACULTY. 


Rev.  mark  HOPKINS,  D.  D.,  President, 

and  Professor  of  Intellectual  and  Moral  Philosophy. 

EBENEZER  EMMONS,  M.  A.,  M.  D., 

Professor  of  Natural  History. 

ALBERT  HOPKINS,  M.  A., 

Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy  and  Astronomy. 

Rev.  JOSEPPI  ALDEN,  D.  D., 

Professor  of  Rhetoric^  Political  Economy y  and  American  History. 

EDWARD  LASELL,  M.  A., 

Professor  of  Chemistry. 

Rev.  NATHANIEL  H.  GRIFFIN,  M.  A., 

Lawrence  Professor  of  Languages. 

JOHN  TATLOCK,  M.  A., 

Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Librarian. 

JIENRY  B.  HOSFORD,  M.  A., 


r 


^  -r'^ 


^: . 


CHAPTER    I. 

THE  SITUATION  OF  THE  COLLEGE. 

The  location  of  a  College  is  the  first  consideration  of  its  founders, 
and  afterwards  also,  of  those  deciding  upon  its  merits.  The  young 
man  who  intends  to  spend  four  years  of  his  life  at  a  College,  will  very 
naturally  first  inquire  about  the  situation  of  the  place.  He  will  want 
to  know  if  the  climate  is  healthy  and  agreeable,  if  the  scenery  is 
pleasant ;  and  if  the  artificial,  as  well  as  the  natural  features  of  the 
place  are  favorable  to  mental  and  moral  progress.  If  these  are  the 
questions  which  he  asks,  and  which  must  be  answered  in  the  affirma- 
tive, to  determine  his  choice,  he  will  soon  be  found  presenting  himself 
for  admission  at  Williams  College. 

It  may  be  that  we  are  somewhat  prejudiced ;  it  would  be  strange  if 
we  were  not ;  but,  for  ourselves,  we  prefer  the  situation  of  Williams 
College,  in  all  respects,  to  that  of  any  other. 

In  the  first  place,  we  like  the  climate.  Some  might  suppose  that  a 
town,  situated  as  this  is,  among  the  northern  mountains,  would  be  intol- 
erably cold.  But  this  is  not  so.  There  are  times,  to  be  sure,  during  our 
Williamstown  winters,  when  we  can  imagine  what  the  winds  might  do  if 
^olus  should  let  them  loose  together.  There  are  times  too  when  we 
can  readily  infer  what  might  be  the  effects  of  heavy  frosts  and  severe 
cold.  But  these  times  are  rare  ;  the  average  temperature  here  during 
the  winter  months,  is  higher  than  in  towns  many  miles  to  the  south. 
The  coldest  year  on  record  was  1834  ;  the  average  temperature  was  42° 
Fahrenheit.  The  average  temperature  for  the  few  past  years,  is  46^. 
The  fact  is,  the  giant  mountains  which  surround  us,  muffled  in  their 
white,  winter  drapery,  protect  us  from  the  bleak  winds  which  howl  in 
vain  for  admittance  to  our  snug  retreat.  However,  we  have  breezes 
enough  to  ventilate  the  valley,  and  to  refresh  and  invigorate  our  bodies. 
The  weather  in  summer  is  not  so  warm  as  to  be  enfeebling.  On  the 
whole,  the  climate  may  be  called  salubrious.  The  death-bell  seldom 
tolls,  and  then,  usually,  to  announce  the  death  of  some  aged  person  who 
has  lived  out  the  appointed  years  of  man. 

In  the  next  place,  we  like  the  scenery.  The  valley  in  which  we  are, 
7 


54  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

seems  to  have  been  hollowed  out  on  purpose  for  a  college.  Two  rivers 
run  through  it.  The  Green  River  is  a  small,  impetuous  stream,  dashing 
over  a  rocky  bed.     Its  waters  are  green, 

'  As  if  the  bright  fringe  of  herbs  on  its  brink 
Had  given  the  stain  to  the  waves  they  drink.' 

The  Hoosac  is  a  deeper  and  more  quiet  river,  winding  through  rich 
meadows.  The  mountains  surrounding  us  on  every  side  are  thickly 
wooded.  In  summer,  when  these  mountain  trees  are  arrayed  in  their 
green  livery,  we  challenge  even  the  Swiss  to  show  a  more  beautiful 
region.     When  they  put  on  the  variegated  vestments  of  Autumn, 

'  They  seem  groups  of  giant  kings,  in  purple  and  gold, 
That  guard  the  enchanted  ground.' 

And  when  in  winter  the  leafless  branches  are  loaded  with  snow,  the 
picture  is  changed,  but  not  spoiled. 

If  living  in  the  midst  of  such  scenery  has  any  effect  upon  students, 
(and  who  will  deny  that  it  has,)  it  surely  is  not  to  produce  effeminacy 
nor  gloom.  When  the  weary  student  turns  from  the  dull  printed  page, 
his  eye  rests  upon  the  pictured  book  of  Nature,  open  before  him.  He 
strolls  forth,  not  through  a  wilderness  of  houses,  but  over  green  fields, 
shaded  by  pleasant  trees,  and  watered  by  gentle  brooks.  He  thus 
invigorates  his  body,  cultivates  a  love  for  nature,  and  if  his  thoughts 
are  rightly  directed, 

*  The  mountain,  river,  forest,  field,  and  grove. 
Remind  him  of  his  Maker's  power  and  love.' 

Of  course,  our  horizon,  bounded  as  it  is  by  the  highest  mountains  in 
the  state,  is  rather  limited ;  so  that  a  traveler  affirmed  that  he  started 
from  Williamstown  just  at  sunset,  and  after  riding  a  dozen  miles  west, 
found  it  broad  noon.  Afler  stripping  this  remark  of  the  hyperbole 
in  which  travelers  usually  enwrap  what  little  truth  they  tell,  there  is 
something  in  it.  The  sun  is,  perhaps,  hidden  from  our  view  some 
minutes  earlier  than  in  surrounding  towns.     But 

*  What  though  they  say,  with  phizzes  long, 
Our  days  are  sooner  past  ? 
We  would  reply,  with  reason  strong, 
They're  sweeter  while  they  last.' 

Finally,  we  like  the  situation  of  Williams  College  because  it  is  in  a 
quiet  country  village.  In  fancy  and  reality,  the  Academic  groves  have 
ever  been  planted  in  the  country.     The  scholars  of  ancient  and  modern 


SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  55 

times  have  always  sought  rural  retirement  for  the  prosecution  of  their 
labors.  Some  may  prefer  the  city.  It  may  be  that  some  minds  are 
disposed  to  study  by  the  din  of  machinery,  the  rattling  of  pavements,|| 
and  the  deafening  cries  of  city  hucksters.  But  men  that  can  study 
amid  such  confusion  must  be  curiously  organized.  The  majority  of 
men  make  most  progress  in  literary  pursuits  in  the  country,  where  the 
stillness  is  unbroken  save  by  the  gentle  music  of  nature. 

Not  only  is  a  retired  village  better  adapted  to  the  mental  progress  of 
students,  but  it  is  also  more  favorable  to  their  morals.  This  should 
not  be  overlooked.  The  temptations  incident  to  college  life,  are,  to 
be  sure,  numerous  enough  any  where  :  but  they  are  necessarily  more 
dangerous  in  the  city  than  in  the  country.  In  a  city  lurk  the  artful 
panderers  to  vice.  They  know  how  to  clothe  it  in  seductive  garb. 
They  know  the  weak  points  of  the  young  ;  and  they  use  their 
knowledge  with,  alas  !  too  sure  success.  The  syren  voice  of  pleasure 
is  too  enchanting  to  be  disregarded  ;  and  the  youth  treads  almost 
unconsciously  down  the  winding  path  of  vice.  He  easily  conceals  his 
progress  from  his  parents  and  instructors,  and  graduates  thoroughly 
dissipated.  In  the  country  it  is  not  so.  Vice  puts  not  on  such 
fascinating  forms,  and  is  pursued  with  greater  danger  of  detection ; 
while  virtue  presents  greater  attractions,  and  is  easily  and  safely 
followed. 

*  Away  the  vicious  pleasures  of  the  town. 
Let  empty,  partial  fortune  on  us  frown, 
But  grant,  ye  powers,  that  it  may  be  our  lot, 
To  live  in  peace,  from  noisy  towns  remote.' 

To  balance  these  advantages,  what  objections  are  urged  against 
country  colleges  1  The  greatest  is,  that  a  *  knowledge  of  the  world  ' 
is  not  gained.  In  the  view  of  some  it  is  the  goal  of  perfection  to 
be  *  men  of  the  world ; '  compared  to  this,  every  other  attainment 
dwindles  into  insignificance.  Our  city  Colleges  are  crowded  with 
worms  of  this  kind,  who  would  scorn  to  remain  '  book-worms,'  but 
who  long  for  the  time  when  they  shall  become  the  gay  butterflies  of 
fashion.  And  to  be  sure  the  city  student  does  see  more  of  '  the 
world,''  but  he  sees  it  at  a  time  when  he  is  least  fitted  to  profit  by  the 
sight.  He  looks  not  with  the  calm  eye  of  the  philosopher,  but  with 
the  impassioned  gaze  of  youth.  He  is  likely  to  be  beguiled  from  his 
books  by  its  bewitching  splendors,  and  perhaps,  allured  from  the  paths 
of  virtue.  A  knowledge  of  men  and  manners  is  undoubtedly  worth 
possessing,  but  we  would  ask  if  college  life  is  the  best  period  for  its 
acquisition,  and  if  it  is  ever  worth  the  loss,  or  even  hazard  of  moral 
purity. 


56  SKETCHES   OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE. 

The  country  student  sees  less  of  the  world  during  his  College  course. 
He  learns  less  of  fashion's  forms,  but  not  necessarily  less  of  true  polite- 
ness. And  does  he  not  acquire  physical,  moral,  and  mental  habits 
which  shall  enable  him,  when  he  enters  the  world,  the  stronger  to  bear 
up  against  its  rude  blasts,  the  better  to  withstand  its  temptations,  and 
to  lead  as  honorable  and  useful  a  life  as  if  he  had  spent  four  years  in 
vibrating  between  the  halls  of  fashion  and  the  halls  of  learning  ? 

We  have  given  our  principal  reasons  for  liking  the  situation  of 
Williams  College.  There  are  some  minor  ones.  It  is  easy  of  access. 
This  could  not  have  been  said  with  truth  a  year  ago.  We  then  led  a 
sort  of  hermit  life  up  here  among  the  mountains.  But  the  completion 
of  the  Adams  and  Pittsfield  Rail  Road,  coming  within  five  miles  of  us, 
almost  joins  us  to  the  net-work  of  railroads,  which  now  pervades  our 
country.  The  railroad  will  probably  soon  be  extended  through  this 
town. 

Another  advantage  resulting  from  our  country  location,  is  the  small 
expense  necessarily  incurred  by  the  students.  The  tuition  is  low  and 
the  board  cheap.  For  this  reason  our  college  is  peculiarly  favorable 
to  those  who  in  their  poverty  are  struggling  for  an  education.  Many 
such  come  here.  They  are  usually  men  who  become  an  honor  to  the 
nation  and  the  glory  of  their  Alma  Mater. 


mmt' 


CHAPTER     II. 

COLLEGE  BUILDINGS,  LIBRARY,  AND  APPARATUS. 

The  West  College  is  the  most  ancient  and  venerable  of  the 
college  buildings.  It  was  built  just  after  the  adoption  of  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States  ;  and  like  that  substantial  document,-  it  is 
based  on  firm  foundations ;  it  has  remained  unshaken  by  storms  within 
or  without ;  and  promises  to  endure  "^for  ages.  It  is  four  stories  high. 
The  walls  are  of  brick,  and  very  thick.  It  stands  on  an  eminence, 
and  is  conspicuous  from  a  great  distance.  On  the  roof  is  perched  a 
small  tower,  in  which  the  College  bell  once  made  its  tintinnabulating 
revolutions,  when  this  edifice  was  the  only  college  building  on  the 
ground,  and  served  for  chapel,  libraries,  recitation  and  lodging  rooms. 
The  building  is  at  present  occupied  by  the  Sophomores  and  Freshmen. 
It  underwent  thorough  repairs  about  a  year  since. 

The  Chapel  stands  several  rods  to  the  east  of  the  West  College,  and 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street.  It  is  of  brick,  three  stories  high, 
with  a  handsome  steeple.  It  was  completed  in  1828.  About  one  half 
of  the  building  is  occupied  by  the  Chapel ;  the  rest  is  used  for  various 
purposes. 

Joined  to  the  Chapel  building,  on  the  east  side,  is  the  Chemical 
Laboratory,  which  was  completed  in  1845.  It  contains  a  large  room 
for  lectures  and  experiments,  an  apparatus-room,  and  a  convenient 
work-room.  The  Laboratory  is  supplied  with  all  the  conveniences 
and  improvements  of  modern  times. 

The  Astronomical  Observatory  stands  in  the  centre  of  the  East 
College  Garden.  It  is  built  of  marble,  in  an  octagonal  form,  with 
two  wings,  and  a  dome  in  which  is  the  large  Herschelian  telescope. 
The  main  lower  room  is  used  for  the  recitations  of  the  Junior  Class  in 
Astronomy.  For  this  purpose  the  celestial  concave  is  mirrored  over- 
head, and  the  most  important  circles,  signs,  and  constellations  of  the 
heavens  are  drawn  upon  it. 

The  Magnetic  Observatory  is  of  brick,  in  an  octagonal  form.  It  is 
the  most  easterly  of  the  college  buildings.  In  it  is  the  large  variation 
transit  instrument,  by  which  the  variations  of  the  needle  are  observed 
daily. 


^ 


58  SKETCHES     OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

The  East  and  South  Colleges  were  erected  in  1842.  They  are 
of  brick,  three  stories  high,  and  contain  rooms  for  the  Seniors  and 
Juniors.  Each  room  has  two  bed-rooms  and  two  closets.  From  the 
West  to  the  East  College,  through  the  hollow,  there  is  a  raised  gravel 
walk.  This  walk,  though  it  now  echoes  to  the  tread  of  peaceful  and 
sober  students,  owes  its  origin  to  war  and  intemperance.  During 
the  administration  of  the  elder  Adams,  a  war  with  the  French  being 
expected,  the  army  was  called  out,  and  a  company  was  stationed  in 
this  town  awhile,  on  their  way  to  Canada.  During  their  stay,  the 
students  hired  them  to  build  this  walk,  and  paid  them  in  whiskey ;  an 
article  of  which  soldiers  then,  as  now,  were  fond ;  and  which  students' 
were  then  permitted  and  permitted  themselves  to  deal  in. 

Lawrence  Hall,  the  new  library  building,  is  just  completed.  It  is 
a  very  beautiful  and  convenient  edifice.  Its  form  is  an  octagon,  whose 
diameter  is  forty-eight  feet,  and  each  side  twenty  feet  long  by  thirty-six 
high.  It  is  two  stories  in  height  —  constructed  of  brick  and  marble, 
the  second  story  is  the  proper  library  room,  and  is  sufficiently  capa- 
cious to  receive  from  twenty  to  thirty  thousand  volumes.  It  has  eight 
alcoves,  separated  from  each  other  by  partitions  proceeding  from  each  - 
of  the  eight  angles  to  within  twelve  feet  of  the  centre,  thus  leaving  a  . 
circular  space,  twenty-four  feet  in  diameter.  The  dome  is  supported 
by  eight  Ionic  columns.  It  takes  its  name  from  Amos  Lawrence, 
Esq.,  of  Boston,  by  whose  liberality  it  was  erected. 

In  addition  to  these  buildings,  another  will  soon  be  erected.  It 
will  stand  in  the  centre  of  the  west  College  garden,  and  will  contain, 
besides  two  large  recitation  rooms,  a  dozen  or  more  rooms  for  the 
accommodation  of  Students. 

The  College  Library  is  well  selected,  and  for  a  country  College  is 
quite  large.  It  has  been  kept,  of  late  years,  in  the  third  story  of  the 
Chapel  building. 

The  apparatus  belonging  to  the  College  is  extensive  in  all  the  de- 
partments, and  additions  are  constantly  being  made.  Much  of  it  was 
purchased  in  Europe,  a  few  years  since,  by  Professor  Hopkins. 

Among  the  apparatus,  are  the  following  instruments :  Atwood's 
Machine ;  Mechanical  Powers  ;  Model  of  a  Steam  Engine ;  Whirling 
Tables ;  Hydrostatic  Press  ;  Montgolfier's  Hydraulic  Ram ;  Self-Reg- 
istering Rain  Guage;  Air-Pumps  of  different  kinds ;  Hiero's  Foun- 
tain; Intermittent  Fountain;  Jet  d'eau  in  vacuus;  Sonometer;  two 
large  Electrical  Machines;  Coulombs'  Torsion  Balance;  Electrical 
Battery ;  Dipping  Needle  with  agate  planes ;  Large  Variation  Tran- 
sit; Wollaston's  Goniometer;  Improved  Magic  Lantern;  Biot's. 
Prism ;  Speculums,  Mirrors,  and  Lenses  of  various  kinds  ;  Solar  and 


SKETCHES  ^F    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  59 

Compound  Microscopes ;  Camera  Obscura,  and  Camera  Lucida ; 
Telescopes  of  various  kinds  and  sizes  ;  Transit  Instrument ;  Orrery  ; 
Dolland's  Micrometer;  Astronomical  Clock;  Large  Compound  Blow- 
pipe ;  Galvanic  Batteries ;  Daguerreotype  Apparatus  ;  Barometers  and 
Thermometers  of  various  kinds  ;  and  a  Mannikin. 

We  have  not  given  by  any  means,  a  catalogue  of  the  apparatus,  but 
merely  a  list  of  some  of  the  larger  instruments.  There  are  two  others 
which  deserve  a  more  particular  notice ;  the  Pantometer  and  the 
Polariscope. 

The  former  instrument  was  invented  by  Prof  Hopkins  some  years 
ago.  It  is,  as  its  name  denotes,  a  universal  measurer.  It  is  intended 
to  answer  a  variety  of  purposes,  both  magnetic  and  astronomical.  It 
may  be  used  either  to  obtain  the  variations  or  dip  of  the  needle,  as  an 
azimuth  and  altitude  instrument,  or  as  an  equatorial. 

The  Polariscope  is  an  elegant  piece  of  apparatus,  recently  procured 
from  the  distinguished  optician,  M.  Soleil,  of  Paris,  at  a  cost  of  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  francs.  At  the  time  of  its  importation,  it  was  the 
only  one  in  America.  It  is  intended  to  illustrate  that  particular  con- 
dition of  light  which  is  denominated  polarized  light.  The  instrument 
is  elegant  in  its  construction.  Its  exhibitions  are  of  singular  and 
extraordinary  beauty,  especially  those  of  colored  and  circular  polari- 
zations, opening  to  the  eye  in  the  interior  structure  of  the  commonest 
crystaline  pebble,  a  new  world  of  wonders,  so  full  of  lights  and  lovely 
shadows,  and  such  exquisite  and  gorgeous  colors,  as  to  surpass  even 
the  dreamings  of  philosophy. 


CHAPTER    III. 

REGULATIONS  AND  EXERCISES  OF  THE  COLLEGE.   • 

In  this  chapter  we  propose  to  follow  a  young  man  from  his  entrance 
to  College  through  the  course,  and  mention  the  principal  regulations 
which  will  affect  him,  and  the  exercises  which  he  will  be  required  to 
perform.  In  order  to  give,  if  possible,  some  vivacity  to  the  mass  of 
detail  which  our  design  will  oblige  us  to  insert,  we  propose  to  give  to 
our  imaginary  student  the  name  of  A.  B.  This  name  we  consider 
peculiarly  appropriate ;  for  when  he  enters,  he  is  in  the  *  a  -  b  ab '  of 
science,  and  when  at  last  we  bid  him  good-bye,  as  a  graduate,  he  has 
only  become  an  '  A.  B.' 

On  the  day  before  Commencement,  that  is,  the  day  before  the  third 
Wednesday  in  August,  A.  B.  presents  himself  for  admission.  He 
might  come  at  any  other  time  during  the  year,  but  this  is  the  regular 
time.  For  admission  to  the  Freshman  class,  A.  B.  is  examined  in 
Geography,  Vulgar  Arithmetic,  and  Algebra  through  simple  equations  ; 
in  English,  Latin,  and  Greek  Grammar,  including  Prosody  ;  in  Virgil, 
and  Cicero's  select  Orations  ;  in  CaBsar's  Commentaries  or  in  Sallust ;  in 
the  Greek  Testament,  and  in  Jacob's,  Colton's,  or  Felton's  Greek 
Reader.  If  A.  B.  passes  a  satisfactory  examination  in  these  studies, 
and  cjan  produce  testimonials  of  good  moral  character,  he  is  declared 
to  be  admitted  to  Williams  College.  And  after,  perhaps,  remaining 
through  the  next  day  to  attend  the  exercises  of  Commencement,  he 
goes  home  to  his  friends  to  enjoy  a  four  weeks'  vacation,  with  the  new 
dignity  of  a  Freshman. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  vacation,  A.  B.  comes  on  to  begin  his  labors. 
We  shall  not  attempt  to  describe  the  strange  feelings  which  will  come 
over  him  at  the  opening  of  this  new  scene  in  his  existence.  Four  long 
years  lie  before  him  ;  strange  faces  are  around  him ;  new  labors  await 
him.  He  may  perhaps  advert  to  the  scenes  of  his  boyhood,  and  as 
the  image  of  *  sweet  home'  rises  before  him,  an  unbidden  tear  trickle 
from  his  eye.  But  although  there  is  nothing  unmanly  in  bestowing  a 
tender  thought  upon  parents  and  friends,  yet  we  shall  not  permit  our 
hero  long  to  indulge  in  such  a  reverie.     He  must  commence  his  duties. 

A.  B.  is  woke  up  early  on  the  first  morning  of  the  term  by  the  ring- 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  61 

ing  of  the  chapel  bell.  In  fifteen  minutes  after,  it  will  begin  to  toll, 
and  he  will  join  the  crowd  thronging  to  the  chapel  to  attend  prayers. 
At  the  close  of  the  day,  he  will  obey  a  similar  summons ;  and  these 
religious  exercises,  he  will  be  required  to  attend  morning  and  evening, 
every  day  of  his  college  course.  If  he  is  ever  absent,  a  monitor  from 
his  class  will  notify  his  instructor,  who  will  call  upon  him  for  an  excuse. 

At  nine  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  bell  will  ring  again.  This  is  for  study 
hours.  There  are  six  hours  in  the  day  allotted  to  study,  and  during 
this  time,  A.  B.  must  be  in  his  room.  During  the  first  term  of  the 
year,  the  study  hours  are  from  nine  till  eleven,  A.  M. ;  from  two  till 
four,  P.  M. ;  and  from  seven  till  nine,  in  the  evening. 

At  eleven  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  bell  will  call  A.  B.  to  recitation. 
There  are  three  recitations  every  day :  one  before  breakfast ;  one  be- 
fore dinner ;  and  one  before  supper ;  excepting  Wednesdays  and 
Saturdays,  when  the  afternoon  recitation  is  omitted.  A.  B's  studies, 
during  his  first  term  will  be,  Combe  on  Health  and  Mental  Education ; 
Livy ;  Dalzel's  Groeca  Majora,  vol.  I ;  Euclid,  four  books ;  and  exer- 
cises in  Latin  Composition. 

On  the  Sabbath,  A.  B.  will  always  be  required  to  attend  service  in 
the  town  church,  unless  necessarily  detained.  This  duty,  together 
with  many  others,  he  will  find  enjoined  upon  him  in  a  pamphlet 
containing  the  College  Laws,  which  will  be  placed  in  his  hands  within 
a  few  days  after  his  entrance. 

During  the  first  week  of  his  residence  in  College,  A.  B.  will  be 
required  to  subscribe  the  following  engagement :  '  I,  A.  B.,  promise  on 
my  faith  and  honor,  that  during  the  term  time,  and  while  residing^  at. 
College,  I  will  neither  drink  any  intoxicating  drink,  nor  supply  it  to 
others,  nor  have  any  agency  in  introducing  it  into  College.'  If  he 
should  ever  violate  this,  he  will  be  dismissed  from  College. 

Besides  the  regular  exercises  in  recitation,  mentioned  above,  there 
are  some  miscellaneous  exercises  which  A.  B.  will  be  required  to 
perform.  He  will  have  to  declaim  before  his  class  as  often  as  twice  a 
term,  during  the  course.  He  will  have  to  declaim  before  all  the  classes 
in  the  chapel  about  eight  times  during  his  course.  During  his  Fresh- 
man and  Sophomore  year,  he  will  be  called  upon  in  the  class  once  or 
twice  a  term  for  a  written  translation  from  Latin  or  Greek.  Other 
exercises  will  come  in  as  he  advances. 

.  We  will  suppose  that  our  friend  has  passed  safely  along  through 
this  term.  It  is  the  third  Wednesday  in  December,  and  the  term 
closes.  A  vacation  of  six  weeks  is  before  him.  We  will  leave  him  to 
go  to  his  admiring  friends,  and  recount  to  the  gaping  multitude  the 
wonders  of  College  life,  which  of  course  seem  more  wonderful  to  him, 
8 


62  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS     COLLEGE. 

after  his  short  experience,  than  they  ever  will  again.  After  he  has 
been  home  a  day  or  two,  his  parent  or  guardian  receives  a  letter  post- 
marked Williamstown.  It  is  opened  with  great  curiosity.  In  it  is 
found,  on  the  first  page,  a  record  of  his  absences,  tardinesses,  and 
unprepared  lessons  during  the  term;  also,  his  general  deportment, 
marked  No.  1,  probably,  which  '  denotes  a  high  degree  of  industry, 
correctness  of  moral  conduct,  and  of  manners.' 

This  long  vacation  comes  in  the  winter,  so  as  to  enable  those  who 
may  wish  to  teach  school,  to  do  it  and  lose  as  little  term  time  as 
possible.  We  will  suppose  however,  that  our  hero  finds  no  necessity 
for  earning  his  own  living ;  and  now,  after  six  weeks,  having  probably, 
enlightened  the  whole'  community,  and  told  his  college  adventures 
until  his  friends  are  satiated,  he  willingly  comes  on  to  begin  another 
term,  and  gather  a  new  stock  of  stories. 

A.  B's  studies  during  his  second  term  Freshman,  are  Livy  continued  ; 
Homer's  Iliad,  two  books ;  and  Algebra.  His  miscellaneous  duties, 
this  term,  are  the  same  as  before.  The  time  of  study  hours  remains 
the  same  till  the  twentieth  of  March,  when  they  are  from  half  after 
eight  till  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M. ;  from  two  till  half  after  four  P.  M., 
and  from  half  after  seven^  till  nine,  in  the  evening. 

About  the  middle  of  this  term,  if  A.  B.  has  conformed  to  College 
rules  and  behaved  regularly  since  his  entrance,  he  will  become  a 
regular  member  of  the  College,  by  subscribing  the  following  engage- 
ment. '  I,  A.  B.  on  condition  of  being  admitted  a  member  of  Wiliams 
College,  promise  on  my  faith  and  honor,  to  observe  all  the  laws  and 
regulations  of  this  College ;  particularly  that  I  will  faithfully  avoid 
the  use  of  profane  language,  gaming,  and  all  disorderly  behavior.' 
This  ceremony  is  called  the  matriculation. 

Near  the  close  of  the  second  term.  A,  B.,  with  the  rest  of  his  class, 
will  be  publicly  examined  in  the  branches  studied  during  the  two 
terms.  The  faculty  and  such  other  gentlemen  as  may  please  to  attend, 
will  be  present.  After  the  examination,  the  faculty  will  make  up  their 
judgment  of  the  literary  merit  of  the  members  of  the  class,  and  the 
result  be  communicated  to  them.  And  during  the  course,  an  examin- 
ation of  the  class  will  occur  annually  at  this  time,  in  the  studies 
pursued  during  the  two  previous  terms.  This  term  will  close  on  the 
first  Wednesday  in  May.  A  vacation  of  three  weeks  will  ensue, 
during  which  time  we  leave  A.  B.  to  his  domestic  pleasures. 

The  studies  of  the  summer  term,  are  Horace  through  the  odes ; 
Herodotus  and  Thucydides,  and  Algebra  concluded.  This  term.  A.'' 
B.  will  be  expected  to  read  two  compositions  in  the  class,  as  well  as 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  63 

perform  the  other  miscellaneous  duties.  Composition  writing  is  kept 
up  from  this  time  through  the  course.  The  exercise  is  so  arranged 
that  he  will  have  to  write  twice  each  term. 

The  time  for  study  is  changed  again  this  term.  The  study  hours 
a^e  from  eight  o'clock  till  eleven,  A.  M.,  and  from  one  till  five,   P.  M. 

Near  the  close  of  the  term,  the  class  is  again  examined  in  all  the 
studies  since  admission  to  College.  This  examination  is  annual,  and 
after  spending  two  or  three  years  in  College,  becomes  of  course,  quite 
laborious.  On  success  in  this  examination,  depends  admittance  to  the 
next  year. 

^{  The  third  term  closes  at  Commencement.  The  evening  before 
Commencement,  there  is  a  prize  Rhetorical  exercise.  At  this  exhibi- 
tion three  Freshmen,  three  Sophomores,  and  three  Juniors  speak 
original  pieces ;  and  a  prize  is  awarded  for  the  best  performance  in 
each  class,  by  a  committee  of  three  persons  designated  by  the  Professor 
of  Rhetoric.     The  exhibitors  are  elected  by  their  several  classes. 

We'  now  greet  our  friend  A.  B.,  as  a  Sophomore.  We  trust  he  will 
wrap  himself  in  none  of  that  foolish  dignity  which  some  Sophomores 
put  on  ;  we  trust  he  will  add  by  his  example  no  significancy  to  that' 
pithy  word,  '  Sophomoric'  We  are  aware  that  it  is  a  period  of  his 
education  when  A.  B.  will  feel  wiser  than  he  ever  has  or  ever  will 
again.  But  he  must  overcome  this  feeling.  He  will  do  well  to  reflect 
if  he  can,  upon  the  time  when  even  he  was  a  Freshman,  and  perhaps 
as  unsophisticated  and  verdant  as  any  of  those  whom  he  now  looks 
down  upon  as  Freshmen.  And  when  he  imagines  that  he  is  plunging 
to  the  lowest  depths  of  the  ocean  of  truth,  he  will  do  well  to  remem- 
ber that  even  Newton,  after  his  life  of  labor,  asserted  that  he  had  only 
picked  up  pebbles  on  its  shores.  But  especially  let  him  avoid  that 
most  foolish  of  all  Sophomore  pranks  —  breaking  windows.  The  sport 
of  this  is  hardly  discoverable.  We  used  to  account  for  the  enthusiasm^ 
with  which  some  engaged  in  it  by  supposing  that  their  ears  were  so" 
fully  developed  that  they  could  catch  music  from  the  rattling  of  the 
glass.  But  the  rationale  of  it  lies  deeper  than  this.  Solomon  wrote  a 
passage  which  explains  it  fully  :    '  It  is  as  sport  to  a  fool  to  do  mischief.' 

The  studies  of  Sophomore  year  are  as  follows :  First  Term. 
Horace,  Satires  and  Epistles ;  Euclid  finished  ;  Logarithms  and  Trig- 
onometry ;  Woolsey's  Greek  Tragedies  ;  Blair's  Lectures  on  Rhetoric. 
Second  Term.  Euclid  reviewed ;  Hedge's  Logic ;  Mensuration, 
Navigation,  and  Surveying,  and  Greek  Poetry.  Third  Term. 
Spherical  Trigonometry,  and  Analytical  Geometry ;  Jackson's  Conic 
Sections,  and  Cicero  de  Officiis.  The  miscellaneous  exercises  remain 
as  before.  :     ',*^\  .  ' 


64  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

It  will  be  perceived  that  the  studies  thus  far  are  chiefly  Languages 
and  Mathematics.  By  the  discipline  thus  gained,  A.  B.  will  be  pre- 
pared for  the  pursuits  of  Junior  year,  which  involve  more  of  the 
practical.  The  studies  of  the  first  term  Junior,  are  Wayland's  Political 
Economy;  GroBca  Majora,  vol.  II.;  Olmsted's  Natural  Philosophy; 
Chemistry,  duintilian  begun.  During  this  term  lectures  on  natural 
Philosophy  are  delivered  to  the  class,  and  continue  through  the  year. 
A  course  of  Chemical  lectures  is  also  commenced  and  resumed  again 
the  third  term.  *.. 

In  addition  to  the  miscellaneous  exercises  of  previous  years,  debates 
are  commenced  in  the  class  this  term,  and  kept  up  through  the  rest  of 
the  course.  Six  usually  debate  at  an  exercise.  It  is  so  arranged  that 
A.  B.  will  be  called  upon  to  debate  once  or  twice  a  term. 

If  A.  B.  has  studied  well  enough  to  rank  among  the  first  fourteen 
scholars  of  his  class,  he  will  receive  an  appointment  at  the  end  of  this 
term,  as  speaker  at  the  Junior  Exhibition  ;  which  occurs  at  the  end  of 
the  second  term. 

The  studies  of  the  second  term  Junior,  are  duintilian  continued ; 
Demosthenes,  and  Plato's  Gorgias ;  Evidences  of  Revealed  Religion ; 
Olmsted  continued,  and  Botany.  Lectures  are  given  this  term  on 
Botany. 

The  third  term,  Junior  year,  the  studies  are  Astronomy,  Tacitus, 
and  Fluxions,  or  French.  The  compositions  this  term,  are  required 
to  be  on  philosophical  subjects.  Lectures  are  given  on  Mineralogy  and 
Geology. 

Our  friend  A.  B.  has  now  completed  three  years  of  his  course.  We 
have  said  nothing  in  relation  to  his  breaking  any  college  laws ;  for 
we  thought  it  well  that  an  imaginary  student  should  do  nothing  wrong. 
But  in  order  to  explain  the  principles  of  the  college  government 
in  regard  to  punishment,  we  insert  the  following  passage  from  the 
College  Laws  :  '  The  punishments  are  mostly  of  the  moral  kind,  and 
addressed  to  a  sense  of  duty  and  the  principles  of  honor,  and  are  the 
following  :  private  admonition  by  an  officer  of  the  College ;  formal 
admonition  before  the  class,  with  acknowledgment  of  the  fault  and 
promise  of  amendment ;  admonitions  or  concessions  before  the  Faculty ; 
putting  the  offender  on  a  state  of  probation ;  suspension  from  the 
privileges  of  the  College  for  a  limited  time ;  rustication  j  private  dis- 
mission ;  and  formal  expulsion.' 

The  studies  of  the  Senior  year  are  different  in  their  nature  from 
those  of  the  three  others.  No  branch  of  Mathematics  or  Languages 
is  studied.  The  studies  of  the  first  term,  are  Campbell's  Philosophy  of 
Rhetoric ;  Anatomy,  Stewart's  Elements  of  Intellectual  Philosophy, 


SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  65 

and  Whately's  Rhetoric.  Lectures  are  given  on  Anatomy  and  Phys- 
iology, on  Rhetoric,  and  on  Intellectual  and  Moral  Philosophy.  During 
this  year,  the  recitation  before  breakfast  is  omitted. 

In  addition  to  the  other  miscellaneous  exercises,  there  is  a  weekly 
exercise  in  reading  this  term  ;  also,  a  weekly  critical  exercise  which  is 
kept  up  through  the  year  ;  one  member  reads  a  composition,  and  the 
rest  of  the  class  pass  judgments  upon  it,  subject  to  the  decision  of  the 
presiding  officer.  Every  Saturday  forenoon  through  the  year,  there  is 
a  recitation  in  Vincent  on  the  Catechism.  Each  member  of  the  class 
is  required  to  speak  an  original  declamation  on  the  chapel  stage  during 
the  first  or  second  term  of  this  year. 

A.  B's  studies  during  the  second  term,  Senior  year,  will  be  Wayland's 
Elements  of  Moral  Science  ;  Story  on  the  Constitution ;  Paley's  Polit- 
ical Philosophy ;  and  Kame's  Elements  of  Criticism.  He  will  hear 
lectures  on  Intellectual  and  Moral  Philosophy,  and  on  International 
Law. 

We  now  have  accompanied  our  fancied  friend  to  his  last  term  in 
College.  The  four  years  which  looked  so  long  at  his  entrance  have 
slipped  almost  away.  The  past  will  seem  like  a  dream.  He  will  doubt- 
less see  many  things  which  he  would  wish  had  been  done  differently. 
It  is  always  the  case  with  one  who  reflects.  It  has  well  been  said  : 
*  A  man  needs  to  live  one  life  to  know  how  to  live  another.' 

The  studies  of  the  third  term  are  Kames  continued ;  Butler's 
Analogy;  and  Paley's  Natural  Theology.  The  Seniors  remain  in 
College  but  seven  or  eight  weeks,  this  term.  On  the  Tuesday  preced- 
ing the  third  Wednesday  in  July,  and  on  the  said  Wednesday,  the 
Seniors  are  publicly  examined  for  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts, 
by  the  Faculty,  the  Standing  Committee  of  the  Trustees,  the  Secretary 
of  the  Corporation,  and  any  other  gentlemen  of  liberal  education,  who 
may  please  to  attend.  They  are  examined  in  the  several  languages, 
arts,  and  sciences,  which  compose  the  course.  After  the  examination, 
the  chairman  of  the  standing  committee  reads  a  list  of  those  candi- 
dates who  have  been  approved ;  and  those  thus  recommended  are  enti- 
tled to  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  at  the  next  Commencement. 

On  the  evening  of  the  last  day  of  the  Senior  Examination,  the 
Adelphic  Union  Exhibition  is  held  in  the  Chapel.  There  are  four- 
teen exhibitors,  chosen  equally  from  the  two  Literary  Societies  :  all 
members  of  the  Senior  Class. 

The  time  between  this  and  Commencement  is  called  the  Senior 
vacation.  A.  B.  we  leave  to  enjoy  himself  as  he  pleases.  On  the 
Saturday  evening  preceding  Commencement,  he  will  probably  return. 


66  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

On  the  next  afternoon,  the  President  preaches  the  Baccalaureate  Ser- 
mon to  the  graduating  class. 

Commencement  is  on  the  next  Wednesday.  The  exercises  consist 
principally  of  orations-  from  the  graduating  class.  The  appointments 
are  given  out  at  the  close  of  the  second  term.  All  those  who  by  their 
scholarship,  conduct,  etc.,  during  their  college  course  have  attained  a 
required  standing,  receive  honors ;  and  their  appointments,  which  are 
all  equal,  are  allotted  at  the  discretion  of  the  Faculty. 

At  nine  o'clock  the  procession  is  formed  at  the  East  College,  and 
marches  to  the  church.  The  President  commences  the  exercises  with 
prayer,  After  a  piece  of  sacred  music,  the  Salutatory  Oration  in 
Latin  is  delivered.  Then  follow  the  other  pieces,  interspersed  with 
music.  There  is  generally  a  forenoon  and  an  afternoon  session. 
The  speaking  in  the  afternoon  closes  with  the  Valedictory  Address. 

After  the  Valedictory,  the  degrees  are  conferred,  and  the  exercises 
closed  with  prayer.  The  form  used  in  conferring  the  degrees  is  as 
follows  :  *  Pro  auctoritate  mihi  commissa,  admitto  vos  ad  primum  gra- 
dum  in  artibus ;  et  singulis  juribus,  privilegiis,  et  honoribus  ad  istum 
gradum  pertinentibus,  frui  et  gaudere  jubeo ;  cujus,  haec  instrumenta, 
sigillo  collegii  munita,  testimonio  sint.' 


CHAPTITR    IV. 

COLLEGE    SOCIETIES 


There  are  two  Literary  Societies  in  College  ;  the  '  Philologian 
Society,'  and  the  '  Philotechnian.'  They  were  formed  in  1795.  They 
receive  their  members  by  allotment,  which  relieves  them  from  the., 
excitement  and  trouble  of  '  electioneering.'  They  meet  every  Wednes- 
day evening  in  their  respective  Halls,  which  occupy  the  third  story  of 
the  South  College.  These  rooms  are  handsomely  furnished.  On 
public  occasions,  the  Philologians  wear  a  blue  ribbon,  and  the  Technian 
a  white  one. 

There  is  a  pleasant  rivalry  existing  between  the  two  Societies  ;  just 
sufficient  to  give  zest  to  their  exercises  and  stimulate  each  to  excellence, 
but  not  hot  enough  to  hinder  their  forming  together  the  '  Adelphic 
Union.'  The  library  belonged  to  the  *  Adelphic  Union '  until  four  or 
five  years  ago,  when  it  was  divided  between  the  two.  Each  Society 
has  now  a  very  good  library. 

There  is  an  annual  exhibition  of  the  Adelphic  Union,  on  the  evening 
of  the  third  Wednesday  in  July.  The  annual  Address  before  the 
Adelphic  Union,  is  delivered  on  the  evening  before  commencement. 

The  '  Theological  Society  '  was  formed  soon  after  the  Literary 
Societies.  It  usually  numbers  from  twenty  to  thirty  members ;  pious 
young  men,  from  all  the  classes.  They  meet  once  a  fortnight,  usually 
on  Sabbath  morning.  The  exercises  are  essays  and  disputations  on 
moral  and  religious  subjects,  and  dissertations  on  texts  of  Scripture. 
They  have  a  library  of  several  hundred  volumes. 

The  '  Mills  Society  op  Inquiry  '  was  formed  in  1820.  It  holds 
its  meetings  once  a  fortnight,  alternating  with  the  Theological  Society. 
Since  its  organization  it  has  had  135  members.  They  have  a  conside- 
rable library.  The  characteristic  of  the  Society  is  set  forth  in  the 
following  covenant,  which  the  members  are  required  to  sign  :  —  '  We 
pledge  ourselves  to  the  cause  of  missions,  resolving  to  devote  our 
personal  services  to  the  heathen,  or  the  destitute  in  our  own  land,  and 
in  all  our  efforts  to  aim  at  nothing  short  of  the  conversion  of  the  world 
to  Christ.'  The  Mills  and  Theological  Societies  usually  have  a  public 
address  on  the  Sabbath  evening  before  Commencement. 


68  •  .    SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

The  *  Handel  and  Haydn  Society  '  was  formed  soon  after  the 
incorporation  of  the  College.  Its  members  constitute  the  College 
choir,  who  make  melody  (  '  in  their  hearts/  we  trust,  if  not  with  their 
voices,)  at  evening  prayers.  The  paraphernalia  of  the  Society  consists 
in  a  musical  library,  and  various  musical  instruments.  They  meet 
every  Thursday  evening. 

The  '  Franklin  Society  '  was  formed  in  1820.  Any  student  may 
become  a  member  by  the  payment  of  $3.00.  This  entitles  him  to 
the  use  of  text  books  from  the  '  Franklin  Library '  during  his  course. 
It  was  first  called  the  '  Benevolent  Society,'  and  was  formed  by  the 
Theological  Society,  to  supply  indigent  students  with  text  books  free 
of  expense.  But  in  a  few  years  the  present  name  and  plan  were 
adopted.  The  library  contains  sixteen  hundred  books,  in  good  repair. 
The  Librarian  is  chosen  from  the  junior  class,  and  occupies  the  Soci- 
ety's room  in  East  College. 

The  '  Lyceum  of  Natural  History  '  was  founded  in  1835,  on  the 
ruins  of  the  '  Linnean  Society.'  It  was  originally  a  secret  society, 
called  the  Phi  Beta  Theta ;  (Phusis,  Biblos,  Theou,  Nature,  the  book 
of  God ;)  but  dropped  its  veil  in  about  a  year,  and  assumed  its  present 
title.  The  object  of  the  society  is  *  the  study  of  the  Natural  Sciences, 
and  the  prosecution  of  antiquarian  researches.'  They  have  a  room  in 
the  South  College,  where  they  meet  once  in  two  weeks,  and  listen  to 
reports  from  the  committees  on  the  various  branches  of  Natural  His- 
tory. The  room  is  well  stored  with  specimens,  although  many  were 
lost  in  the  fire.  They  have  also  a  very  valuable  library.  The  society 
have  sent  out  two  expeditions  to  procure  specimens,  which  were  emi- 
nently successful ;  the  first  in  1835,  to  Nova  Scotia,  and  the  second 
in  1840,  through  this  county,  and  the  eastern  part  of  the  state  of  New 
York. 

The  '  Horticultural  and  Landscape  Gardening  Association,' 
was  formed  in  1835.  It  includes  nearly  all  the  students.  Its  object 
is  '  to  improve  and  ornament  the  college  grounds.'  To  the  good  influ- 
ence of  this  association,  the  fragrance  and  beauty  of  the  college  gar- 
dens, and  the  health  and  vigor  of  the  students  bear  ample  testimony. 

There  are  three  secret  societies  in  College.  They  usually  number 
from  fifteen  to  twenty  members  each,  taken  from  all  the  classes. 

The  '  Kappa  Alpha  '  Society  was  started  here  in  1834.  Since  that 
time,  they  have  had  one  hundred  and  ten  members.  They  have 
branches  in  two  other  Colleges. 

The  '  Sigma  Phi  '  came  here  nine  months  after.  They  have  had 
one  hundred  and  three  members.     They  have  five  other  branches. 

The  '  Chi  Psi  '  began  in  1842,  since  which  time,  it  has  had  thirty 
eight  members.     There  are  branches  of  it  in  seven  other  Colleges. 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  69 

The  '  SociAi,  Fraternity'  is  an  anti-secret  Society,  founded  in  1836. 
Most  of  the  students  not  connected  with  secret  societies  belong  to  the 
S.  F.     Its  motto  is  '  Ouden  Adelon,'  (nothing  secret' 

The  last  four  Societies  wear  badges.  That  of  the  Kappa  Alpha  is 
a  diamond-shaped  gold  key.  The  badges  of  the  Sigma  Phi  and  Chi 
Psi  are  gold  breast  pins,  formed  of  the  two  Greek  letters  which  form 
their  respective  titles,  united  in  a  monogram.  The  badge  of  the  S. 
F.,  is  a  square  gold  key.  Each  of  the  badges  bears  various  devices 
which  it  would  be  difficult  to  represent  without  an  engraving,  which 
unfortunately,  was  not  procured  in  time  for  insertion. 


CHAPTER    V. 

COLLEGE  LIFE. 

Almost  as  many  different  ideas  are  formed  of  college  life,  by  the 
world  without,  as  there  are  individuals  to  form  them.  Some  think 
that  college  is  a  sort  of  heathen  paradise,  where  a  desire  for  pleasure 
is  the  only  motive  power ;  where  books  hide  their  faces  in  the  dust, 
and  where  the  course  of  life  is  one  continued  round  of  gaiety  and 
dissipation.  Accordingly,  if  they  meet  with  a  student,  who  is  straying 
for  a  while  from  the  enchanted  circle,  they  ascribe  to  him  the  spirit  of 
his  place,  and  burden  him  with  the  blame  of  every  practical  joke, 
however  wicked  and  unfeeling,  perpetrated  in  the  vicinity.  These 
persons,  especially  if  religious  in  profession  and  prejudice  only,  will 
tell,  with  long  countenances,  of  college  temptations ;  and  consider  it 
almost  impossible  for  the  fire  of  religion  to  retain  its  glow,  or  even  its 
^  lukewarmness,'  in  a  student's  breast. 

Others  regard  college  as  a  sort  of  monastery,  where  Science  and 
Religion,  clothed  in  their  sternest  garbs,  govern  like  tyrants.  They 
pity  the  poor  fellows  who  have  doomed  themselves  to  such  a  hermit 
life  among  musty  books ;  rising  to  their  labors  *  while  it  is  yet  night,' 
and  prolonging  the  same  by  the  light  of  the  '  midnight  lamp.'  This 
class  coijsider  piety  as  inseparable  from  a  life  in  college ;  as  we  once 
heard  a  devout  old  lady  say  of  a  young  man,  whose  character  was  up 
for  remarks  :  *  Of  course  he  's  pious ;  he 's  been  to  college  ! ' 

It  is  difficult  to  say  which  of  the  above  classes  is  most  at  -fault.  At 
any  rate,  neither  is  right.  The  student  has  his  pleasures,  but  he  is 
not  always  pursuing  them.  He  studies  ;  but  seldom  becomes  a  recluse. 
His  temptations  are  numerous,  but  no  more  formidable  than  assail 
young  men  of  active  minds  and  strong  feelings  in  other  walks  of  life. 
Neither  are  all  students  Christians,  by  any  means.  Would  that  they 
were. 

In  order  to  correct,  if  possible,  some  false  notions,  and  to  impart, 
perhaps,  some  new  ones,  we  propose  to  attempt  a  short  description  of 
college  life.  We  know  of  no  better  way  to  effect  this,  than  to  insert 
some  extracts  from  a  student's  journal,  which  give  his  first  impressions 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  '71 

of  his  new  course  of  life,  some  descriptions  of  certain  customs,  and 
various  reflections  and  remarks.  Of  course,  not  much  method  is  pre- 
served in  so  rambling  a  composition  as  a  private  journal.  The  first 
extract  contains  an  account  of  a  Freshman's  first  experience : 

*  Friday,  10  o'clock  P.  M.  The  term  began  yesterday.  I  arrived 
last  night,  was  examined,  and  had  a  room  assigned  me  in  the  fourth 

't'story  of  this  monstrous  pile  of  bricks,  called  West  College.  My 
room-mate  is  rather  a  boisterous  fellow,  a  Dutchman,  full  of  practical 
and  theoretical  jokes.  Fear  he  will  interfere  somewhat  with  the  course 
of  study  I  intend  to  pursue.  For  if  sleepless  nights  and  laborious 
days  will  accomplish  it,  I  intend  to  stand  first  in  my  class.  I  have 
always  been  considered  the  first  scholar  in  my  native  town,  and  my 
father  and  teachers  justly  expect  me  to  excel  here.  Have  not  seen  my 
superior  in  the  class. 

*  About  light,  this  morning,  was  awoke  by  the  chapel  bell  rolling 
around  at  a  furious  rate,  and  emitting  its  hoarse  notes  of  command, 
as  if  it  were  at  once  proud  of  its  office,  and  impatient  of  restraint. 
Was  just  dreaming  of  delivering  the  college  valedictory,  and  fancied 
I  saw  the  proud  look  of  my  father  as  he  listened.  (Mem.  To  be  up 
before  the  bell  rings  after  this.)  Dressed  as  quick  as  possible  and 
went  over  to  the  chapel.  Several  of  our  class  were  already  there ; 
but  as  the  higher  classes,  lazy  fellows,  were  not  up  yet,  we  had  to  wait 
till  the  bell  was  tolled. 

*  The  religious  exercises  occupied  some  fifteen  minutes.  What  an 
odd  look  does  a  man  present,  who  has  just  emerged  from  his  bed.  I 
presume  that  of  the  175  students  who  were  present,  not  a  dozen  had 
been  out  of  the  land  of  Nod  long  enough  to  lose  their  residence.  In 
fact,  I  am  told  that  some  of  the  seniors  retain  it,  and  go  back  after 
prayers.  After  the  religious  exercises,  which  occupied  about  fifteen 
minutes,  and  consisted  in  reading  the  Bible,  and  in  prayer,  we  came 
over  to  the  Livy  recitation.  This  took  about  an  hour.  In  going  to 
breakfast,  was  accosted  by  a  Sophomore,  who  appeared  to  know  me  — 
said  he  took  an  interest  in  new  comers  —  invited  me  to  his  room. 
Clever  fellow,  I  guess,  and  a  suitable  man  for  a  friend.  His  name  is 
Fair  speech. 

*  After  breakfast,  studied  Greek  till  11  o'clock.  Had  to  help  my 
chum  a  good  deal.  He  is  far  my  inferior  in  the  languages.  As  I  was 
passing  through  the  hall  from  recitation,  Fairspeech  threw  a  tumbler 
of  water  in  my  face.  But  he  said  it  was  a  mistake,  and  felt  so  bad,  I 
really  pitied  him.  (Mem.  To  call  on  Fairspeech  and  show  him  that 
I  retain  no  hard  feelings.)     The  afternoon  recitation  was  in  Mathe- 


^2  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

matics.     Like  college  life  very  much.     Every  thing  goes  on  like  clock 
work.'  . 

So  ended  the  Freshman's  first  day  in  college.  He  of  course,  has 
not  yet  learned  the  hollowness  of  some  friendship.  The  second  day, 
betrays  him  into  like  error  : 

*  Saturday.  Called  on  Fairspeech.  Like  him  still  better.  Rather 
an  amusing  incident  occurred  at  my  entrance.  F.  handed  me  a  chair, 
and  as  I  sat  down,  pulled  it  away,  and  I  sprawled  on  the  floor,  to  the 
laughter  of  the  company.  Mr.  F.  did  not  laugh  though ;  but  kindly 
helped  me  up,  apologizing  with  his  wonted  politeness,  saying  that  he 
just  then  thought  to  dust  out  the  chair.  F.  then  drew  me  out  in  con- 
versation. Told  him  my  history,  and  my  intentions.  He  seemed  to 
sympathize  with  me  fully ;  said  he  stood  first  in  his  class  for  three  days 
after  admission,  when  his  eyes  failed  him.  (Mem.  To  take  special 
care  of  my  eyes.) 

*  This  afternoon,  took  a  long  walk  over  these  hills.  Enjoyed  the 
scenery  very  much.' 

The  next  extract  is  dated  some  four  or  five  weeks  after  the  above, 
and  shows  that  the  scales  had  begun  to  fall  from  the  Freshman's  eyes  : 

*  Am  now  pretty  well  acquainted.  Found  that  Fairspeech  only 
wanted  to  '  gas  '  me,  which  he  did  pretty  effectually.  Come  to  meas- 
ure swords  with  my  classmates,  find  my  prospects  for  the  valedictory 
rather  dubious.  We  have  had  several  lessons  in  Physiology,  with 
accompanying  lectures  from  the  President.  These  are  designed  to 
give  some  important  information  in  regard  to  health.  But  why  need 
any  one  be  sick  who  breathes  this  pure  air,  and  wanders  over  these 
hills?'        ,^     ,,.  \,  ,„   ,  ,.  , 

The  next  extract  gives  an  account  of  a  Wednesday  in  collie,  some 
two  months  after  our  friend's  entrance. 

'  Wednesdays,  we  have  only  two  recitations.  The  afternoon  is 
devoted  to  an  exercise  in  speaking,  &lc.  It  was  my  turn  to  declaim 
to-day.  Spoke  that  eloquent  extract,  commencing,  *  Venerable  men  ! 
you  have  come  down,  &lc.'  Got  quite  excited  in  the  delivery.  Splen- 
did audience  !  All  the  students  in  the  college  were  present.  Two 
spoke  from  each  class.  But  though  I  say  it  myself,  I  think  I  rather 
took  the  lead  to-day.     I  felt  that  I  held  the  audience  in  my  power,  and 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  73 

could  sway  them  as  I  would.  There  is  a  magic  in  eloquence.  The 
President  and  the  Professor  of  Rhetoric  sit  on  the  stage,  and  criticise 
each  speaker.  I  was  criticised  as  little  as  any  one  —  was  told  that  1  had 
*  no  tone  and  the  elements  of  a  good  speaker.'  Oratory  is  a  department 
in  which  I  hope  to  make  a  great  proficiency.  Mean  to  practise  read- 
ing aloud  some  eloquent  writer.  (Mem.  To  draw  out  Burke  for  this 
purpose.') 

*  This  evening,  joined  the  Philo-Technian  Society.  Admission  fee, 
$5.  We  have  a  beautiful  room  to  meet  in,  and  the  entertainment  is  of 
the  highest  order.  Freshmen  give  declamations  and  compositions ; 
Sophomores,  compositions  and  disputes;  Juniors,  compositions  and 
orations ;  and  Seniors,  orations  and  debates.' 

-  The  following  betrays  the  large  ideas  of  our  young  friend  on  read- 
ing, dated  near  the  close  of  the  first  term.  It  is  well  to  aim  high,  but 
our  friend  evidently  formed  greater  purposes  than  he  could  execute, 
as  will  be  seen  in  the  sequel. 

:^  .  *  Looked  over,  this  evening,  a  book  of  advice  to  students.  An  article 
on  *  general  reading '   struck  me  forcibly.     Immediately  resolved  in- 

^wardly  to  read  a  great  deal  while  here.  The  libraries  are  large.  My 
opportunities  never  will  be  better.  I  have  adopted  the  following  scheme 
for  my  college  course.  History  ;  Rollin,  Josephus,  Gibbon,  Hal- 
lam's  Middle  Ages,  Hume's  England,  Bancroft's  United  States,  and 
Alison's  Modern  Europe ;  also,  some  minor  histories  to  fill   up  the 

,  intervals.  Biography  ;  Lives  of  all  the  great  men  in  whom  I  become 
interested  by  other  reading.  English  Literature  ;  Shakspeare, 
Milton,  Addison,  Pope,  Young,  Swift,  Goldsmith,  Burke,  and  Cowper. 
I  think  this  course,  well  pursued,  will  employ  me  through  college, 
and  make  me  at  graduation  a  man  of  great  general  information*. 
Began  Rollin  to-night.  (Mem.  To  draw  the  1st  vol.  of  Shakspeare  * 
from  the  Library,  and  the  lives  both  of  Shakspeare  and  Rollin.') 

Here  is  an  extract  written  during  the  second  term.  Freshman  year, 
which  contains  a  fact  worth  noticing.  Though  somewhat  sanguine 
,and  unsophisticated  in  some  of  his  notions,  our  young  tyro  has  made 
no  mistake  in  this. 

,  *  Called  on  the  President  and  two  or  three  of  the  Professors  to-day. 
Was  struck  with  the  affable  and  familiar  manner  with  which  they 
treated  me.  How  different  from  my  old  Academy  teacher,  who  used, 
when  I  called  on  him,  to  assume  the  dignity  of  a  Turkish  Sultan. 


74  •  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

The  instructors  here,  on  the  contrary,  seem  to  consider  the  students  as 
young  gentlemen  desirous  of  an  education,  and  themselves  as  their 
friendly  guides,  not  sentinels  nor  police  officers.  The  result  is,  that 
the  students  almost  universally  regard  the  faculty  as  their  friends,  and 
of  course,  treat  them  with  respect.' 

We  pass  now  to  g.  new  college  year.  The  Sophomore  now  looks 
upon  the  Freshman  as  the  butterfly  does  on  the  caterpillar,  although  he 
himself  was  one  so  little  while  ago. 

'Here  I  am  at  the  beginning  of  Sophomore  year  —  not  a  poor 
Freshman,  forlorn,  friendless  and  verdant  —  but  acquainted  with  every 
student  and  all  the  faculty.  I  stand  well  in  my  class,  and  have  a  high 
reputation  as  a  writer,  speaker  and  debater ;  am  acquainted  somewhat 
with  the  ladies,  and  courted  for  my  conversational  power.  But  hold  ! 
suppose  somebody  should  read  this  !     Would'nt  I  be  called  green  ? 

*  A  year  ago,  the  then  Sophomores  hectored  me  somewhat.  They 
would  lock  me  in  if  I  left  my  key  outside,  smoke  me  out,  duck  me,  fcc. 
I  told  them  then  that  every  dog  must  have  his  day.  Yes,  said  they,  and 
every  puppy  too  ;  you'll  have  your's.  Puppy  or  no  puppy,  my  day  has 
come.  I  must  repay  those  indignities  to  the  present  freshmen.  Rather 
odd  revenge  this  —  visiting  the  iniquities  of  one  generation  on  the 
third.     But  so  goes  the  world.  . 

*  Carried  a  composition  to  Professor ,  to-day,  to  be  criticised. 

It  was  one  of  my  finest  efforts.  Subject,  '  the  Extensive  Flight  and 
upward  Aim  of  the  American  Eagle.'  The  Professor  told  me  it  was 
rather  Sophomorical.  Wonder  what  he  intended  by  that  epithet.  If 
he  meant  to  insinuate  anything  personally  disrespectful,  shall  not  soon 

forget  it.     (Mem.     To  treat  Professor ,  with  a  marked  coldness 

until  an  explanation  be  made.') 

*  The  examinations  which  round  off  Sophomore  year  are  past.  There 
are  now  three  or  four  days  of  leisure,  during  which,  the  student  is  in 
a  sort  of  chrysaline  state,  changing  from  a  Sophomore  into  a  Junior. 
As  the  occasion  seemed  to  invite  to  some  kind  of  recreation,  our  class 
voted  last  week  to  perform  the  funeral  obsequies  of  Euclid  —  a  gentle- 
man who  has  ceased  to  instruct  us  forever.  Accordingly  the  burial 
took  place  last  night.  The  class  assembled  in  the  recitation  room  in 
full  numbers,  at  9  o'clock.  The  deceased,  much  emaciated,  and  in  a 
torn  and  tattered  dress,  was  stretched  on  a  black  table  in  the  centre  of 
the  room.  This  table,  by  the  way,  was  formed  of  the  old  blackboard, 
which  like  a  mirror,  had  so  often  reflected  the  image  of  old  Euclid. 
In  the  body  of  the  corpse  was  a  triangular   hole,  made  for  the  post 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  '  W 

mortem  examination,  a  report  of  which  was  read.  Through  this  hole, 
those  who  wished  were  allowed  to  look  ;  and  then  placing  the  body  on 
their  heads,  they  could  say  with  truth  that  they  had  for  once  seen 
through  and  understood  Euclid. 

*  A  eulogy  was  then  pronounced^  followed  by  an  oration  and  the 
reading  of  the  epitaph,  after  which,  the  class  formed  a  procession,  and 
marched  with  slow  and  solemn  tread  to  the  place  of  burial.  The  spot 
selected  was  in  the  woods  half  a  mile  south  of  the  Colleges.  As  we 
approached  the  place  we  saw  a  bright  fire  burning  on  the  altar  of  turf, 
and  torches  gleaming  through  the  dark  pines.  All  was  still  save  the 
occasional  sympathetic  groans  of  some  forlorn  bull-frogs  which  came 
up  like  minute  guns  from  the  marsh  below.' 

*  When  we  arrived  at  the  spot,  the  sexton  received  the  body.  This 
dignitary  presented  rather  a  grotesque  appearance.  He  wore  a  white 
robe  bound  around  his  waist  with  a  black  scarf,  and  on  his  head  a 
black,  conical-shaped  hat,  some  three  feet  high.  Having  fastened  the 
remains  to  the  extremity  of  a  long  black  wand,  he  held  them  in  the 
fire  of  the  altar  until  they  were  nearly  consumed,  and  then  laid  the 
charred  mass  in  the  urn,  muttering  an  incantation  in  Latin.  The  urn 
being  buried  deep  in  the  ground,  we  formed  a  ring  around  the  grave, 
and  sung  the  following  dirge,  written  for  the  occasion  : 

'  Why  gathers  this  band  in  mourning  here  ? 
Why  bend  we  in  sorrow  over  the  bier  ? 
Oh !  well  may  we  weep  and  in  sadness  mourn, 
For  from  us  a  friend  by  death  has  been  torn. 
Then  weep  !  brothers,  weep  ! 
For  he  sleeps  his  last  sleep, 
' '  With  whom  we  have  all  held  sweet  converse  together. 

^ '  Then  brothers,  come  turn 

One  last  look  at  his  urn, 
And  leave  him  there  gently  to  slumber  for  ever. 

'  We  ne'er  shall  forget  while  memories  last, 
How  Playfair  loved  us,  and  clung  to  us  fast; 
He  led  us  to  conquer  in  the  Elements'  war, 
Though  some  of  us  show  full  many  a  scar. 

But  now  the  fierce  battle, 

With  its  din  and  its  rattle, 
Hath  passed,  and  the  sky  is  beautifully  clear. 

See  !  that  triangle  host. 

With  a  rectangle's  ghost, 
In  a  tangent-like  course,  is  leaving  our  sphere. 

'T  is  well  then  to  gather  in  sorrow  now, 
T  is  well  o'er  our  hero's  corse  to  bow ; 


76  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

In  sackcloth  and  ashes  most  humbly  we  mourn ; 
We  weep  that  a  loved  one  is  from  us  borne. 

And  his  spirit  e'en  now, 

With  the  freshmen  below, 
Is  far,  very  far  from  the  home  of  the  blest ! 

Then  shout  loud  and  long 

The  funeral  song. 
Ere  we  in  sweet  slumbers  lie  down  to  our  rest.' 

'  Then  lighting  our  torches  by  the  dying  fire,  we  retraced  our  steps 
with  feelings  suited  to  the  occasion.' 

We  are  aware  that  some  of  the  foregoing  extracts  do  not  speak  very 
highly  for  the  good  sense  of  the  writer.  We  might  have  made  a 
different  selection  ;  but  we  purposely  chose  such  passages  as  set  forth 
in  strong  colors,  the  failings  which  are  apt  to  characterize  Freshmen 
and  Sophomores.  Although  these  failings  are  not  necessary,  they  are, 
when  seen,  often  useful.  The  student  profits  by  his  hard  lessons.  He 
learns  by  his  freshman  experience,  that  some  professions  of  friendship 
are  hollow;  that  his  sanguine  expectations  cannot  all  be  fulfilled.  Be- 
fore he  completes  his  Sophomore  year,  he  begins  to  discover  that 
his  knowledge  does  not  embrace  all  science  and  literature,  and  repents 
of  the  empty  pretensions  which  Sophomore  vanity  prompted  him  to 
make.  In  the  remaining  quotations,  the  reader  will  notice  a  compar- 
tive  absence  of  these  weaknesses. 

'  I  have  now  reached  the  half-way  house  of  my  college  course. 
How  strangely  my  views  and  feelings  have  changed  since  I  came  on 
here  two  years  ago.  Well  did  an  old  man  say,  '  Freshmen  know 
everything;  Sophomores  more  than  that;  Juniors  are  comparatively 
ignorant;  and  Seniors  know  nothing  at  all.'  I  begin  to  feel  my 
ignorance.  How  foolish  seem  the  failings  of  my  past  course !  How 
conceited  I  was !  I  loved  distinction  as  a  scholar  more  than  knowl- 
edge. I  liked  to  have  it  thought  that  I  recited  well  without  much 
study.  But  I  now  believe  that  industry  is  not  a  very  shameful  virtue. 
A  man  must  not  be  ashamed  to  be  called  a  '  grub'  in  college,  if  he 
would  shine  in  the  world.' 

'  Wednesday.  Joined  the  Natural  History  Society  this  afternoon. 
This  association  meets  once  in  two  weeks.  There  are  committees  in 
the  various  departments  of  natural  science,  who  report  on  the  different 
specimens  procured.  To-day  we  heard  some  very  interesting  reports 
on  the  Cicuta,  the  Fish  Hawk,  &/C.  I  was  added  to  the  committee  on 
Botany. 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.                       77 
*  Was  interrupted  a  moment  just  now,  by  the  entrance  of  Mr.  C. , 


the  gentleman  who  makes  the  beds,  sweeps,  takes  up  the  ashes,  and 
supports  the  dignity  of  the  title,  'Professor  of  dust  and  ashes.'  He 
is  a  tall,  well-made  man;  forehead  high,  and  eyebrows  prominent, 
phrenologically  indicative  of  great  mental  power.  He  has  smoothed 
the  sheets  wrinkled  by  the  restless  repose  of  genius,  for  more  than 
thirty  years.  He  will  regale  one  for  hours,  if  invited,  with  choice  bits 
of  college  gossip,  and  scraps  of  college  history  and  biography,  no 
where  else  to  be  obtained.  He  is  a  devout,  conscientious  man.  His 
calm,  philosophic  spirit  is  rarely  ruffled  by  the  perplexities  of  his  avo- 
cation. *  Fortunate  Senex  ! '  May  he  long  continue  his  philanthropic 
labors.     *  Serus  in  ccelum  redeat.' 

*I  always  supposed  before  I  came  here,  that  college  government 
must  be  very  galling.  I  knew  that  to  be  under  tutors  and  governors 
at  any  period  of  life  was  naturally  irksome,  and  thought  that  at  the  age 
of  students,  it  must  be  exceedingly  so.  I  imagined  that  the  Faculty 
would  take  pains  to  impress  on  their  subjects  the  almost  oriental  des- 
potism with  which  they  could  sway  their  tiny  sceptre.  But  I  find  on 
experience,  that  my  imaginings  were  groundless.  I  have  never  felt 
the  halter  draw.  I  have  occupied  my  circle ;  the  Faculty,  theirs ; 
the  circumferences  meet ;  they  do  not  cut.  So  I  have  now  come  to 
the  conclusion  that  a  young  man  who  regards  at  all  the  object  of  his 
coming  here,  will  experience  no  trouble  from  college  government.  It 
is  not  here  as  at  some  other  colleges  which  1  have  heard  of,  where  the 
student  is  treated  as  an  infant ;  where  he  is  watched  in  all  his  out- 
goings and  in-comings,  his  down-sittings  and  up-risings,  as  if  it  were 
feared  that  he  were  plotting  treason ;  where  he  is  considered  a  rogue 
until  he  proves  himself  honest ;  and  where  he  is  liable  to  dismission 
on  the  slightest  suspicion ;  or,  worse  than  all,  the  testimony  beguiled 
from  him  by  the  siren  voice  of  feigned  friendship  is  magnified  into  an 
accusation  sufficient  to  banish  him  from  college.  No  !  thank  fortune, 
such  is  not  the  course  pursued  by  the  Faculty  of  Williams.' 

*  Looked  out  my  window  just  now,  and  saw  a  decrepit  old  horse, 
whom  some  fun-loving  students  or  other  had  been  arraying  in  all  sorts 
of  trumpery.  He  had  boots  on  his  feet,  pantaloons  on  his  legs,  and 
his  body  covered  with  old  carpets.  A  pipe  was  stuck  in  his  mouth, 
and  an  antiquated  umbrella  hoisted  over  his  head.  On  his  side  was 
fastened  a  flaming  notice,  *  Oats  wanted  — Inquire  inside.'  In  this 
regalia,  the  unfortunate  animal,  compared  to  whom,  Don  duixote's 
Rosinante  was  a  perfect  Bucephalus,  was  moving  off  at  about  half  the 
10 


78  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

velocity  of  the  minute-hand  of  a  clock.  I  was  immediately  struck  with 
the  analogy  between  this  beast  and  that  other  animal,  styled  by  late 
writers  on  natural  history,  a  dandy.  Both  sport  in  useless  and  often  in 
borrowed  finery.  Both  lack  mental  power.  Yet  there  are  two  essential 
differences.  First,  the  horse  is  degraded  contrary  to  his  will,  while  the 
dandy  voluntarily  degrades  himself  Secondly,  that  horse,  with  all 
the  load  of  incongruities  upon  him,  is  not  ridiculous ;  the  dandy  is. 
Humanity  alone  can  become  ridiculous.' 

The  remaining  extracts  are  dated  at  different  periods  during  Senior 
year. 

'  A  Senior  !  How  all  that  the  student  knows  of  dignity  and  literary 
ease,  clusters  around  that  name  !  It  signifies  the  '  otium  cum  digni- 
tate,'  which  is  the  bright  object  of  hope  to  cheer  the  weary  pilgrim 
through  three  years  of  toil.  And  yet,  when  the  bright  bubble  is 
within  one's  grasp,  it  proves  as  empty  as  any  other.  Senior  dignity, 
like  a  new  pair  of  boots,  is  very  uncomfortable.  And  although  the 
exemption  from  a  recitation  before  breakfast  seems  to  afford  a  super- 
abundance of  time,  the  studies  are  so  much  more  difficult,  and  so  many 
new  duties  in  writing,  reading  and  debating,  stare  one  in  the  face,  that 
there  is  little  time  to  spare.  On  the  whole,  I  agree  with  him  who 
said,  *  Nunquam  se  minus  otiosum  esse,  quam  cum  otiosus  esset.' 

In  olden  time,  a  Senior  was  quite  a  consequential  personage.  The 
lower  classes  were  required  to  touch  their  hats  to  him,  to  stand  when 
they  entered  his  room,  until  desired  to  sit,  and  to  give  him  the  prefer- 
ence on  all  occasions.  But  that  custom  has  died  out.  There  is  very 
little  class  distinction  here,  less  than  at  other  colleges.  Freshmen  and 
Sophomores  are  much  more  haughty  than  Juniors  and  Seniors,  and  all 
the  classes  are  on  terms  of  familiarity.  It  is  perhaps  partly  owing  to 
the  influence  of  the  secret  societies,  who  take  men  from  all  the  classed, 
and  of  course  pay  special  deference  to  the  new  comers  during  the  time 
of  electioneering.' 

*  Gravel  day.  On  the  second  Monday  of  the  first  term  in  the  year, 
if  the  weather  be  at  all  favorable,  it  has  been  customary  from  time 
immemorial  to  hold  a  college  meeting,  and  petition  the  president  for 
*  Gravel  day.'  We  did  so  this  morning.  The  day  was  granted,  and 
recitations  being  dispensed  with,  the  students  turned  out  en  masse  to 
re-gravel  the  college  walks.  The  gravel  which  we  obtain  here  is 
of  such  a  nature  that  it  packs  down  very  closely,  and  renders  the  walks 
as  hard  and  smooth  as  a  pavement. 

'  The  Faculty  grant  this  day  for  the  purpose  of  fostering  in  the 


SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  79 

students  the  habit  of  physical  labor  and  exercise,  so  essential  to  vigor- 
ous mental  exertion.  On  the  same  principle,  they  give  us,  near  the 
close  of  the  second  term  what  is  called  '  chip  day,'  when  we  put  the 
grounds  in  order,  and  remove  the  ruins  caused  by  a  winter's  siege  on 
the  wood-piles.' 

'  Spring  is  opening.  The  last  snow-drift  on  the  towering  peaks 
above  us,  has  melted  away,  and  the  breezes  blow  mildly  and  warmly 
over  the  valley.  The  Horticultural  Society,  which  embraces  nearly 
every  student  in  college,  have  .divided  their  summer's  task  among  them, 
A  share  in  the  cultivation  of  a  beautiful  flower-bed  has  fallen  to  my  lot. 
Many  improvements  in  the  college  grounds  are  to  be  made  this 
summer.  What  a  blessing  is  a  large  and  luxuriant  flower-garden.'  I 
agree  perfectly  with  the  following  passage  in  *  Kames'  Elements  of 
Criticism,'  on  the  importance  of  a  neat  college  garden.  *  It  is  not  easy 
to  suppress  a  degree  of  enthusiasm,  when  we  reflect  on  the  advantages 
of  gardening  with  respect  to  virtuous  education.  In  the  beginning  of 
life,  the  deepest  impressions  are  made,  and  it  is  a  sad  truth,  that  the 
young  student,  familiarized  to  the  dirtiness  and  disorder  of  many 
colleges,  pent  within  narrow  bounds  in  populous  cities,  is  rendered  in 
a  measure  insensible  to  the  elegant  beauties  of  art  and  nature.  Is 
there  no  man  of  fortune  suflliciently  patriotic  to  think  of  reforming  this 
evil  ?  It  seems  to  me  far  from  an  exaggeration,  that  good  professors 
are  not  more  essential  to  a  college,  than  a  spacious  garden  sweetly 
ornamented,  but  without  anything  glaring  or  fantastic,  so  as  upon  the 
whole  to  inspire  our  youth  with  a  taste,  no  less  for  simplicity  than  for 
elegance.  (Changing  a  word  or  two.)  In  that  respect  Williams 
College  may  justly  be  deemed  a  model.' 

*  Two  weeks  more,  and  my  studies  in  college  will  be  finished.  How 
little  do  I  know  1  How  little  have  I  read  1  How  feeble  the  execution 
of  the  scheme  of  reading  which  I  find  entered  on  my  journal  during 
the  buoyancy  of  Freshman  year  !  A  sense  of  my  ignorance  and  my 
incapacity  for  holding  a  station  as  a  scholar,  sometimes  overwhelms 
me  with  melancholy.  Would  that  I  could  enter  college  again  with  my 
present  experience  !  But  this  is  an  idle  wish.  My  business  now  is, 
to  remedy  immediately  the  faults  I  discover.  If  I  do  this,  my  four 
years  in  college  will  not  have  been  wasted ;  for  it  is  half  the  business 
of  education  to  unlearn  evil. 

*  Perhaps  I  have  mistaken  the  object  of  college  life.  It  is  not  to 
gather  facts  merely,  but  to  acquire  discipline.  Better  know  how  to 
use  the  pencil  skilfully  than  to  own  a  dozen  pictures  without.  I 
believe  I  have  gained  some  facility  in  directing  and  fixing  my  powers 


80  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

on  a  specific  object ;  and  although  I  cannot  yet,  as  old  Dr.  Emmons 
would  have  his  theological  students  do,  '  look  at  the  point  of  a  cambric 
needle  for  a  half  an  hour  without  moving  an  eyelid,'  I  can  look 
longer  and  steadier  than  I  could  four  years  ago.  I  have  not  richly 
freighted  my  ship,  but  I  trust  I  have  acquired  some  little  skill  in  man- 
aging its  helm  and  its  sails  ;  and  I  know  where  the  freight  is,  where 
my  course  lies,  where  the  rocks  are  hid,  and  I  humbly  hope  I  may 
reach  the  port  towards  which  I  steer.' 

*  Senior  examination  has  passed.  It,  occupied  two  whole  days. 
Hot !  Hot !  Hot !  It  was  a  trying  time,  physically  as  well  as  intel- 
lectually. The  last  link  of  college  duties  is  broken.  After  four  weeks 
of  vacation,  we  shall  attend  Commencement,  receive  our  diplomas,  and 
enter  the  world  as  freshmen.  How  I  dread  to  leave  !  I  never  knew  be- 
fore how  many  and  strong  are  the  ties  which  bind  one  to  his  Alma  Mater. 
My  college  life  has  constituted  the  golden  days  of  my  existence.  It^has 
left  indelible  impressions  on  my  soul,  many  of  which  I  shall  delight  to 
review.  Never  shall  I  revisit  or  remember  these  scenes  without  feeling 
my  pulses  thrill  again  with  the  warm  gush  of  youth. 

'  To  my  classmates,  I  feel  new  affection  as  the  day  of  parting 
approaches.  All  past  difficulties  and  petty  animosities  are  drowned  in 
the  bitter  cup  of  separation.  Some  whom  I  at  times  used  to  regard 
almost  with  aversion,  seem  now  like  brothers.  We  probably  never 
shall  all  meet  again  on  earth.  We  shall  be  scattered  far  and  wide,  as 
the  winds  scatter  the  winged  seeds  of  the  trees  in  Autumn.  But  God 
grant  that  when  we  meet  in  another  world,  it  may  be  to  part  no  more.' 


CHAPTER    VI. 

EXCURSIONS  IN  THE  VICINITY. 


The  location  of  Williams  College,  if  we  regard  the  pleasures  and 
advantages  of  natural  and  romantic  scenery,  is  perhaps  unsurpassed 
by  that  of  any  other  college  in  the  country.  Environed  as  it  is  by 
some  of  the  loftiest  mountains  in  New  England,  in  a  region  replete 
with  scenes  of  historic  interest,  and  abounding  in  wild  and  picturesque 
view^s,  the  surrounding  country,  as  might  be  expected,  presents  many 
objects  well  worthy  of  the  attention  of  the  tourist  and  geologist,  and 
which  by  numerous  and  delightful  associations  have  become  hallowed 
in  the  memory  of  every  graduate.  Notwithstanding  the  complaints  of 
former  times,  we  cannot  but  regard  the  situation  of  Williams  College 
as  most  fortunate ;  as  calculated  to  awaken  those  finer  feelings  in  the 
heart  of  every  student,  which  arise  from  a  frequent  contemplation  of  the 
sublime  and  beautiful,  and  the  influence  of  which  may  in  some  meas- 
ure account  for  the  ardent  and  cherished  attachment  which  has  ever 
characterized  the  Alumni  of  this  Institution.  In  this  chapter,  therefore, 
which  we  have  denominated  Excursions  in  the  vicinity,  we  propose 
to  accompany  our  reader  to  some  of  the  most  interesting  of  these 
places,  and  point  out  as  well  as  we  are  able,  the  distinctive  features 
and  history  of  each. 

The  first  place  of  note  which  we  propose  to  visit  is  the  site  of  Fort 
Massachusetts,  situated  about  three  miles  from  the  college,  on  the  road 
to  North  Adams,  and  interesting  both  from  the  historical  associations 
connected  with  it,  as  well  as  from  the  few  scattered  relics  that  yet  remain 
upon  the  ground.  *  The  plough  has  passed  over  its  rude  lines,  but 
what  scenes  of  humble  heroism,  and  almost  forgotten  valor  are  asso- 
ciated with  its  name.  It  was  the  bulwark  of  the  frontier  in  the  day  of 
its  infancy.  The  trembling  mother  on  the  banks  of  the  Connecticut, 
in  the  heart  of  the  Commonwealth,  clasped  her  babes  closer,  at  an 
idle  rumor  that  Fort  Massachusetts  had  given  way.  A  hundred  vil- 
lages reposed  in  the  strength  of  this  stout  guardian  of  New  England's 
Thermopylae,  through  which  for  two  generations,  the  French  and 
Canadian  foe  strove  to  burst  into  the  colonies.' 


SS  SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

This  fort  was  built  in  1741-2,  and  was  part  of  the  line  of  defence 
erected  to  protect  the  northern  and  western  settlements  of  New  Eng- 
land against  French  and  Indian  hostilities.  It  was  at  that  time  the 
most  extreme  northern  outpost,  in  the  very  centre  of  the  wilderness, 
the  nearest  settlements  being  Albany  and  Springfield.  The  enemy, 
directed  their  principal  movements  towards  Connecticut  river;  but 
some  came  down  the  Hudson,  and  proceeding  eastward,  up  the  Hoosic, 
appeared  at  intervals  in  the  neighborhood  of  this  fort,  beneath  whose 
walls  many  bloody  skirmishes  took  place. 

The  first  action  of  any  importance  occurred  on  the  20th  of  August, 
1746,  when  an  attack  was  made  by  upwards  of  900  French  and  Indians, 
under  Gen.  Vaudreuil.  The  garrison  at  that  time  consisted  of  thirty- 
three  persons,  including  women  and  children ;  of  this  number  twenty-two 
only  were  effective  men,  who  were  miserably  supplied  with  ammunition. 
Notwithstanding  these  unfortunate  circumstances,  the  fort  was  most 
bravely  defended  for  forty-eight  hours,  when  they  were  compelled  to 
surrender,  the  means  of  defence  being  wholly  exhausted.  The  terms 
of  capitulation  stipulated  that  none  of  the  prisoners  should  be  delivered 
into  the  hands  of  the  Indians ;  but  this  condition  was  most  shamefully 
violated  on  the  succeeding  day,  on  the  plea  that  there  was  danger  of 
mutiny  in  the  army ;  the  Indians  being  irritated  because  they  were 
cut  off  from  the  profits  of  the  conquest.  One  half  were  accordingly 
delivered  up,  the  sick  and  infirm  immediately  butchered,  and  the  re- 
mainder carried  captive  to  Canada.  The  enemy  lost  forty-five  men,  a 
portion  of  whom,  from  the  quantity  of  bones  discovered  during  the 
summer  of  1846  in  the  rear  of  the  Magnetic  Observatory,  possibly 
were  buried  in  that  place.  The  fort,  which  was  destroyed,  was  re- 
built the  succeeding  summer  by  Col.  Williams,  who  was  attacked  on 
the  25th  of  May,  1747,  by  a  large  party  of  the  enemy,  who  came  with 
the  design  of  hindering  the  undertaking,  but  were  repulsed  with  con- 
siderable loss.  In  1748,  another  action  took  place.  Col.  W.  was 
compelled  to  retire,  after  some  sharp  fighting  within  the  walls. 

After  the  death  of  Col.  Williams,  the  command  of  the  fort  devolved 
on  one  Capt.  Wyman.  The  last  attack  was  in  June,  1756,  when  the 
enemy  killed  a  few  men  whom  they  unexpectedly  surprised  in  the 
fields. 

The  Rev.  Stephen  West,  afterwards  Dr.  West,  and  first  Vice  Pres- 
ident of  the  College,  was  stationed  at  this  fort  as  chaplain,  from  1755 
to  1757. 

The  following  incident  is  said  to  have  occurred  in  1746.  It  was  the 
daily  custom  of  an  old  Indian,  to  come  upon  a  ledge  of  rocks,  (by  the 
side  of  which  the  present  road  now  passes,)  in  full   sight  of   the 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  83 

garrison,  and  provoke  them  with  insulting  gestures  and  taunting 
exclamations.  The  old  fellow  had  cautiously  calculated  the  interven- 
ing distance,  and  safe  beyond  the  reach  of  shot  from  the  fort,  would 
calmly  await  any  attempt  to  approach  him,  when  he  would  retire  to  the 
adjoining  woods,  where  on  account  of  the  numbers  and  strength  of  the 
enemy  scouting  in  the  vicinity,  it  was  highly  imprudent  to  follow. 
This  scene  was  daily  repeated  for  some  time,  and  what  measures  to 
take  the  garrison  were  for  a  time  at  a  loss  to  know.  To  submit  to 
these  repeated  outrages  was  not  to  be  thought  of  by  the  stern  old 
settlers  for  an  instant. 

Among  the  various  topics  that  formed  the  subject  of  conversation  at 
that  time,  the  merits  of  a  famous  long  gun,  celebrated  along  the  bor- 
ders for  its  power  to  send  a  ball  to  a  great  distance,  held  a  prominent 
place.  This  gun  was  owned  in  Springfield,  and  without  delay  a 
messenger  was  despatched  on  the  long  and  perilous  journey  of  seventy- 
five  miles,  through  a  trackless  wilderness,  to  obtain  it.  In  five  days, 
the  man,  fortunately  escaping  the  enemy's  outposts,  returned,  having 
effected  his  object,  and  when  the  unsuspecting  Indian  again  made  his 
appearance,  a  sure  and  fatal  shot  prevented  him  from  ever  repeating 
the  performance.  So  the  story  runs.  That  the  shot  was  a  long  one, 
any  one  who  will  take  the  trouble  to  examine  the  distance,  will  not  for 
a  moment  doubt. 

The  locality  of  this  fort  is  still  indicated  by  the  print  of  the  cellar, 

and  by  horse-radish,  which  was  planted  by  the  soldiers,  and  still  grows 

upon  the  spot.     Beneath  an  apple  tree,  a  short  distance  from  the  road, 

are  two   rude    monumental  stones,  one  of  which  bears  the  following 

inscription : 

1746 

'  ELISHA  NIMS. 

The  inscription  upon  the  ot,her,  with  the  exception  of  the  date,  1748, 
and  a  few  other  rude  characters  is  nearly  obliterated.  Tradition  having 
asserted,  that  the  gallant  Nims  was  shot  in  the  back,  by  the  Indian 
above  referred  to,  while  carrying  water  to  the  garrison,  (from  the 
Spring  which  still  bubbles  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,)  a  party  of  students 
a  few  years  since,  while  making  some  explorations  in  the  vicinity, 
opened  the  grave,  designated  by  the  stone  as  his.  A  skeleton  was 
there  found,  with  a  bullet  imbedded  in  one  of  the  vertebras  ;  having  been 
undisturbed  and  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  for  nearly  a  hundred 
years.  The  vertebrae  containing  the  ball  is  still  to  be  seen,  in  the  Mu- 
seum of  the  N.  H.  Society,  at  the  College.  The  foundations  of  the 
chimnies,  together  with  some  traces  of  the  walls,  were  at  the  same  time 
discovered. 


84  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

It  was  probably  while  stationed  at  this  fort,  (from  1747  to  1755,) 
that  the  mind  of  Col.  Williams,  foreseeing  that  brighter  days  were  yet 
to  dawn  upon  the  infant  settlement,  and  that  the  little  groups  of  log- 
cabins,  the  smoke  from  whose  chimnies  had  just  began  to  curl  up 
amid  the  lonely  and  mysterious  woods,  would  soon  give  place  to  pros- 
perous and  thriving  villages,  resolved  thus  early,  to  devote  his  property 
to  the  cause  of  future  education,  the  result  of  which  fifty  years  after- 
wards, was  the  establishment  of  Williams  College. 

Leaving  Fort  Massachusetts,  and  proceeding  about  a  mile  across  the 
fields,  towards  the  eastern  extremity  of  Saddle  Mountain,  you  enter  a 
wild  and  beautiful  gorge,  which  is  well  worthy  the  attention  of  all 
lovers  of  romantic  scenery.  Following  the  mountain  stream,  that 
rushes  in  miniature  cascades,  along  the  narrow  bottom  of  the  ravine, 
now  half  concealed  by  the  thick  foliage,  and  at  times  apparently  lost 
amid  the  huge  boulders  and  broken  trunks  that  are  scattered  in  every 
direction,  you  come  at  last  to  a  beautiful  water-fall,  falling  by  a  series 
of  successive  leaps,  a  distance  of  about  sixty  feet,  over  the  opposing  pre- 
cipice into  a  circular  rock  basin,  whose  placid  and  miror-like  surface 
presents  a  pleasing  contrast  with  the  turbulence  and  foam  of  the  stream 
above.  The  scenery  around  is  of  the  wildest  and  most  romantic  char- 
acter. 

The  steep  moss-covered  rocks  that  rise  on  either  side,  the  lofty  and 
primeval  forests  that  crown  their  summits  and  hang  over  the  gulf,  the 
accumulated  rocky  masses  below  ;  all  remain  unmodified  by  the  hand 
of  man,  just  as  the  mighty  agencies  of  nature  have  left  them.  This 
spot,  although  so  near  the  College,  is  so  effectually  concealed  among 
the  recesses  of  the  mountains,  that  its  very  existence  was  comparatively 
unknown  until  within  the  last  five  years.  In  honor  of  the  generous 
benefactor  of  the  College,  this  place  has  received  the  name  of 
Lawrence  Gorge. 

Two  miles  east  of  Fort  Massachusetts,  situated  in  the  town  of 
Adams  is  a  natural  bridge.  A  small  stream  flowing  over  the  soft 
white  lime  stone,  has  excavated  for  itself  a  deep  chasm,  from  fifteen 
to  twenty  feet  wide,  and  thirty  rods  in  length.  The  rocks  terminate 
on  the  south  in  a  steep  precipice,  over  which  the  waters  of  the  brook 
once  fell,  but  finding  in  some  places  natural  fissures,  and  wearing 
away  the  rocks  themselves  in  others,  the  present  stream  now  flows 
far  below  its  former  bed,  leaving  two  masses  of  rock  which  connect  the 
opposing  sides  and  form  natural  bridges.  The  upper  bridge  is  now 
much  broken  ;  the  lower  one,  which  is  yet  perfect,  is  beautifully  arched, 
and  spans  the  stream  now  flowing  fifty  feet  below.  Singular  and  gro- 
tesque cavities  of  different  figures  and  dimensions,  worn  by  the  action 


SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  85 

of  the  water,  appear  on  either  side  of  the  precipice,  while  the  adjoining 
rocks,  even  in  some  places  that  appear  inaccessible,  are  covered  with 
the  names  and  initials  of  numerous  visitors.  The  scenery  about  the 
bridge  is  very  fine,  and  the  place  itself,  is  well  worthy  of  a  visit. 

But  the  principal  object  of  attraction  in  the  vicinity  of  the  college, 
is  Saddle  Mountain  ;  so  called  from  the  appearance  which  its  summits 
have  been  fancied  to  have,  at  a  distance,  though  we  think  it  would  be 
somewhat  difficult  to  trace  the  resemblance.  This  mountain,  properly 
speaking,  does  not  belong  to  either  of  the  three  great  ranges  that 
traverse  the  State,  in  various  directions,  but  is  in  fact,  an  insulated 
eminence,  connected  at  its  southern  extremity  with  the  Taconic, 
and  at  the  northern,  with  the  Hoosic,  ranges  of  mountains,  running 
diagonally  between  them,  and  surrounded  by  vallies.  This  mountain, 
with  the  exception  of  some  peaks  of  the  White  Mountains,  is  the  most 
elevated  point  in  New  England,  rising  by  barometrical  measurement, 
3600  feet  above  the  tide  water  of  the  ocean,  and  2800  feet  above  the 
situation  of  the  colleges.  It  is  chiefly  the  insulated  character  of  this 
mountain,  that  renders  it  so  striking  an  object  in  the  surrounding 
scenery  ;  and  seen  from  the  adjoining  towns,  to  the  south  and  east, 
presents  a  grand  and  imposing  appearance.  The  highest  peak  has 
received  the  more  poetical  designation  of  Grey  Lock,  from  the  singular 
and  fantastic  appearance  of  the  frost,  which,  wreathing  itself  during 
the  winter  months,  along  the  dark  evergreens,  and  extending  for  a 
great  distance  in  an  apparently  horizontal  line,  it  needs  no  great  effort  of 
the  imagination  to  regard  as  the  grey  locks  of  the  venerable  mountain. 
This  distinct  line  of  congelation,  sinking  lower  and  lower  as  the 
cold  increases,  and  covering  more  of  the  mountain  with  its  grey  and 
sparkling  mantle,  and  exhibiting  a  contrary  result  from  an  increase 
of  temperature,  is  a  most  interesting  and  beautiful  phenomenon. 

Grey  Lock  is  to  the  student  in  his  rambles,  what  Mecca  is  to  the 
Mahometan ;  and  a  pilgrimage  to  the  summit  is  considered  necessary, 
at  least  once  during  the  collegiate  course.  There  is  an  ancient  and 
time-honored  custom  which  has  existed  from  the  establishment  of  the 
College,  of  granting  to  the  students,  once  a  year,  a  certain  day  of 
relaxation  and  amusement,  known  by  the  name  of  '  Mountain  Day.' 
It  usually  occurs  about  the  middle  of  June,  when  the  weather  is  most 
favorable  for  excursions  to  the  mountains  and  other  places  of  interest 
in  the  vicinity.  It  is  customary  on  this  and  other  occasions  during 
the  summer,  for  parties  to  pass  the  night  upon  the  summit,  both  for  the 
novelty  of  the  thing,  and  also  to  enjoy  the  unrivalled  prospect  at 
sunrise  next  morning.  We  invite  our  readers  to  accompany  us  upon 
one  of  these  excursions ;  for  we  think  that  the  general  features  of  the 
11 


86  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

mountain  can  be  better  described  in  this  way  than  in  any  other.  The 
summit  of  Grey  Lock  is  accessible  by  various  routes ;  but  the  one 
usually  preferred  by  students,  is  to  pass  directly  over  the  nearest  point, 
(called  Prospect  Mountain,)  and  descending  the  other  side,  join  the 
main  road  that  comes  up  the  Hopper. 

We  will  suppose  our  party,  each  amply  supplied  with  provisions  and 
a  huge  pile  of  blankets,  to  leave  the  College  about  the  middle  of  the 
afternoon.  After  proceeding  about  a  mile  over  the  adjoining  fields,  we 
arrive  at  the  base  of  Prospect  Mountain  ;  and  here  our  labor  properly 
begins.  The  elevation  to  be  overcome  is  about  1800  feet.  The  sides 
of  the  mountain  are  extremely  steep,  and  covered  with  a  thick  growth  of 
trees  and  under-brush.  After  toiling  up  the  lower  part  of  the  mountain, 
which  to  some  extent  has  been  cleared,  and  stopping  here  and  there  to 
refresh  yourself  with  the  wild  berries,  which,  in  tempting  profusion, 
flourish  on  every  side,  or  to  admire  the  green  valley  below,  you  pass 
from  the  broad,  clear  sunlight,  to  the  thick  gloom  of  the  almost 
impenetrable  woods.  And  now  for  the  ascent ;  '  Hoc  opus,  hie  labor,, 
est : '  as  every  one  will  readily  say  who  has  experienced  it.  Now 
clambering  over  the  trunks  of  fallen  trees,  catching  at  this  and  that 
twig  to  assist  us ;  now  stopping  to  dislodge  from  the  bed,  where  the 
last  deluge  had  left  it,  some  nicely  poised  boulder,  and  send  it  crashing 
down  the  precipitous  side ;  now  resting,  and  then  pushing  forward 
with  renewed  zeal,  we  at  last,  weary,  and  ready  to  sink  with  exhaustion, 
reach  the  summit.  The  view  which  unexpectedly  bursts  upon  you  here 
is  surpassingly  beautiful.  Below  you  is  a  valley,  completely  encircled 
by  a  huge  wall  of  mountains,  with  two  silver-like  streams  crossing  it  in 
opposite  directions.  In  the  centre  is  the  village  of  Williamstown,  and 
on  an  eminence  in  the  midst,  stand  the  Colleges  and  the  Astronomical 
Observatory.  On  your  right,  the  vast  slope  of  the  Hoosic  Mountains, 
stretching  far  away  into  Vermont ;  on  the  left,  the  Taconic  range, 
stretching  northerly  still  farther,  while  in  the  far-off  horizon  you  wit- 
ness peak  after  peak  towering  one  above  another,  until  blended  in  the 
distance.  Behind  you  Grey  Lock  rises  in  silent  grandeur,  and  the 
vast  gulf  of  the  Hopper  is  a  thousand  feet  below  you.  The  view  from 
Grey  Lock  may  have  more  of  sublimity  and  grandeur,  but  that  from 
Prospect  Mountain,  we  regard  as  by  far  the  most  beautiful. 

But  our  time  is  short,  and  the  way  is  yet  long ;  so  once  more 
resuming  our  bundles,  we  again  commence  our  march,  by  descending 
the  southern  slope,  which  is  divested  of  trees  and  is  comparatively  a 
gentle  declivity.  On  reaching  the  bottom  we  again  commence  the 
ascent,  but  now  by  a  carriage  road,  which  was  constructed  with  great 
labor,  some  years  since,  by  the  contributions  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  87 

adjoining  towns.  The  ascent  is  moderate,  —  the  road  circuitous  and 
winding,  —  now  descending  amid  seemingly  impenetrable  thickets  of 
evergreens  and  the  decayed  accumulations  of  centuries,  and  now 
mounting  up  and  catching  a  faint  glimpse  of  the  world  beneath.  In 
about  three  hours  after  leaving  the  Colleges,  we  reach  the  summit. 
Here  in  the  midst  of  a  cleared  space  of  about  an  acre,  is  a  wooden 
building  of  two  stories,  from  the  top  of  which  rises  a  tower,  with  an 
elevation  of  about  fifty  feet  from  the  ground,  erected  partly  for 
meteorological  purposes,  and  partly  in  order  to  afford  to  visitors  a  more 
uninterrupted  view  of  the  surrounding  country.  The  second  story 
formerly  contained  an  ingenious  apparatus  for  registering  the  strength 
and  direction  of  the  wind,  together  with  some  other  instruments ;  but 
the  apartment  was  forcibly  entered,  and  the  whole  machinery  shame- 
fully destroyed  or  carried  away  by  some  persons  unknown.  The 
tower  and  building  which  have  suffered  considerably  from  the  action 
of  the  elements,  and  still  more  from  the  destructive  propensities  of 
visitors,  is  yet  in  a  tolerable  state  of  preservation. 

On  reaching  the  summit,  a  huge  fire  is  speedily  kindled;  spruce 
boughs  are  collected  for  beds,  and  fuel  for  the  fire  during  the  night. 
After  performing  these  duties,  and  witnessing  the  gorgeous  spectacle 
at  sunset,  the  party  proceed  to  supper  with  an  appetite  not  a  little 
heightened  by  their  long  and  fatiguing  walk.  The  evening  is  generally 
spent  in  merriment  and  conversation  around  the  fire,  (for,  although 
the  heat  in  the  valley  below  may  be  most  oppressive,  there  are  few 
times  in  the  course  of  the  season,  when  a  fire  on  Grey  Lock  is  at  all 
uncomfortable,)  or  in  enjoying  the  singular  appearance  of  the  sentinel- 
like peaks  below  you,  seen  through  the  thick  gloom  of  the  evening. 
One  of  the  most  impressive  circumstances  at  this  time  and  spot,  if  the 
air  be  clear,  and  the  winds  at  rest,  is  the  solemn  stillness  which  pervades 
the  whole  place,  and  the  feeling  of  solitude  which  invariably  steals 
over  you.  Not  a  light  can  be  seen  from  any  human  habitation,  not  a 
sound  breaks  in  upon  the  serene  quiet  which  there  reigns ;  while  the 
appearance  of  the  surrounding  forrest,  so  wild  and  unreclaimed  from 
a  state  of  nature,  greatly  heightens  the  sublimity  of  the  scene.  As 
the  evening  advances  the  circle  around  the  fire  by  degrees  breaks  up, 
and  each  wrapping  himself  in  his  blanket  and  selecting  the  most 
comfortable  place  among  the  spruce  boughs,  lays  himself  away  for  a 
night's  rest. 

The  scene  at  sunrise,  from  the  top  of  the  tower,  is  unequalled,  and 
any  description  would  fail  of  giving  any  adequate  idea  of  the  magnifi- 
cence of  the  spectacle.  '  I  know  of  no  place,'  says  President  Hitchcock, 
in  the  Geological  Survey  of  the  State,  'where  the  mind  is  so  forcibly 


88  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

impressed  with  the  idea  of  vastness,  and  even  of  immensity,  as  when  the 
eye  ranges  abroad  from  this  eminence.  Towards  the  south,  you  have  a 
view,  more  or  less  interrupted  by  spurs  from  the  Taconic  and  Hoosic 
ranges  of  mountains,  of  that  fertile  valley  that  crosses  the  whole  of 
Berkshire  county.  On  your  right  and  left  you  look  down  upon,  or 
rather  overlook  mountains,  which  from  the  valley  beneath,  seemed  of 
towering  height  and  grandeur.'  In  the  distance,  is  the  Hudson, 
winding  majestically  through  a  region  of  country,  thick  with  count- 
less towns  and  villages,  while  far  beyond,  standing  in  bold  relief  against 
the  western  sky,  the  blue  peaks  of  the  Catskills  are  distinctly  visible. 
In  another  direction,  the  principal  towns  of  Berkshire,  interspersed 
here  and  there  with  some  beautiful  sheets  of  water,  are  spread  out 
before  you,  as  upon  a  map  ;  while  farther  to  the  east,  the  eye  wanders 
over  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut,  chequered  with  cultivated  fields  and 
forests,  the  view  being  limited  by  Mt.  Tom  in  one  direction,  and 
Monadnoc  at  the  farthest  extremity,  on  the  other.  As  the  sun  rises, 
the  scene  becomes  changed.  The  mist  gradually  rising  and  filling  the 
whole  valley,  presents  the  appearance  of  a  vast  sea  of  vapor, 

•  Where  vales  and  mountains  round 
Stand  motionless  in  solemn  silence  bound, 
Like  leaning  masts  of  stranded  ships  appear, 
The  pines  that  near  the  coast  their  summits  rear. 
Of  mountains,  woods  and  plains,  a  pleasant  shore, 
Bound  calm  and  clear  the  chaos  still  and  hoar.' 

This  mist,  by  a  refraction  of  the  sun-rays,  assumes  at  times,  a  beau- 
tiful golden  appearance,  as  if  the  beauties  of  the  landscape  below, 
resolved  by  some  magic  power,  had  risen  in  vast  and  gorgeous 
exhalations  around  us. 

Descending  the  mountain  by  a  different  route,  and  following  the 
naked  summit  of  Bald  Mt.  (the  southwest  peak  of  Saddle  Mt.,)  nearly 
to  its  extremity,  you  find  yourself  upon  the  edge  of  a  gulf,  at  least' a 
thousand  feet  deep,  the  four  sides  of  which  apparently  converge  to  a 
point  at  the  bottom.  This  place,  from  its  peculiar  form,  is  called  the 
Hopper.  The  sides,  which  are  extremely  steep,  are  covered  for  the 
most  part,  with  bright  patches  of  evergreens  and  other  trees  of  various 
species ;  but  in  some  places  the  rocks  are  left  bare  for  hundreds  of 
feet,  exhibiting  the  strata  in  some  instances,  to  the  very  base.  On  the 
northern  side  may  be  seen  traces  of  several  avalanches,  by  which  the 
trees  and  loose  soil  have  been  swept  away  in  some  cases,  from  a  height 
of  1600  feet,  and  of  considerable  width.  The  most  remarkable  of 
these  slides,  occurred  in   1784,  when  a  vast  accuonulation  of  earth, 


SKETCHES    OF   WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  89 

trees  and  rocks,  descending  from  an  elevation  of  1400  feet,  produced 
a  sudden  deluge  in  the  narrow  valley  of  the  Hopper  below,  destroying 
in  its  course  a  dwelling  house,  the  inmates  of  which  barely  escaped 
with  their  lives.  A  similar  slide  took  place  in  1823,  and  several 
smaller  ones  have  since  occurred,  the  paths  of  which  are  yet  destitute 
of  vegetation.  Vestiges  of  earlier  avalanches  may  be  perceived  in 
other  places,  through  the  stunted  growth  or  the  peculiar  character  of 
the  trees  that  have  sprung  up  since.  Traces  of  diluvial  action  seen 
in  furrows  and  scratches  on  the  rocks,  occur  in  various  places  on  Bald 
Mountain.  There  are  some  other  places  of  interest  connected  with 
Saddle  Mountain,  and  an  excursion  there  in  the  summer,  will  not  fail  to 
furnish  ample  gratification. 

To  the  north  of  the  College,  on  the  road  leading  to  Bennington,  is 
a  curious  geological  phenomenon,  called  the  '  Weeping  Rock.'  The 
water  exuding  from  the  limestone  cliff,  heavily  impregnated  with 
calcareous  matter,  drops  continually  upon  a  mass  of  sand  and  gravel, 
which  it  has  cemented  into  a  firm  and  solid  rock.  Specimens  of 
conglomerate  may  be  obtained  here,  most  singular  in  their  aspect,  and 
sometimes  beautiful  in  their  appearance. 

There  is  a  legend  about  these  grey  old  rocks,  which  runs  as  follows  : 
That  as  the  last  Indian,  standing  here,  bade  adieu  to  the  homes  and 
the  graves  of  his  forefathers,  to  his  rivers  and  mountains,  and  recount- 
ing his  tale  of  oppression  and  wrong,  turned  away  from  them  forever, 
the  rocks  wept,  and  since  that  time,  through  sympathy,  have  con- 
tinued to  pour  out  fountains  of  tears.  Hence  the  name  '  weeping 
rocks.' 

A  few  miles  farther  north,  upon  the  summit  of  a  neighboring 
mountain,  is  a  natural  curiosity,  known  by  the  name  of  *  Snow  Hole.' 
Here,  in  a  huge  crevice  or  fissure  of  unfathomable  depth,  the  snows 
that  accumulate  during  the  winter,  are  preserved  unwasted  and  in  all 
their  original  purity  throughout  the  year.  This  place  is  considerably 
resorted  to  during  the  summer  months,  both  on  account  of  the  beautiful 
prospect  to  be  obtained  from  the  summit,  as  well  as  to  enjoy  the  novelty 
of  snow-balling  during  the  months  of  July  or  August.  The  mountain 
is  situated  in  New  York  State,  and  forms  a  portion  of  the  manor  of 
Van  Renssellaer. 

In  an  adjoining  valley,  near  the  route  by  which  you  ascend  the 
mountain,  is  a  stone  monument,  marking  the  three  corners  of  the  three 
States  of  New  York,  Massachusetts,  and  Vermont,  which  at  this  place 
intersect  with  one  another ;  one  side  of  the  stone  being  in  New  York, 
another  in  Massachusetts,  and  a  third  in  Vermont.  The  curious  may 
here  gratify  themselves  by  visiting  in  a  short  space  of  time,  three 
different  towns,  each  situated  in  different  counties  and  States. 


90  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

The  battle  field  of  Bennington,  to  which  excursions  are  sometimes 
made,  is  situated  fourteen  miles  to  the  north  of  the  colleges. 

In  preparing  this  sketch  of  a  few  of  the  numerous  and  beautiful 
places  of  resort  in  the  vicinity  of  Williams  College,  we  have  of  neces- 
sity been  obliged  to  omit  many,  which  some  may  deem  more  worthy  of 
a  place  than  those  we  have  mentioned ;  but  we  think  it  sufficient  to 
say,  in  closing,  that  if  wild  and  romantic  scenery,  the  sharp  bold 
mountain,  the  craggy  and  precipitous  cliff,  the  beautiful  cascade,  or  the 
gently  winding  river,  can  add  any  thing  of  attraction  or  interest  to  a 
place,  then  surely  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of  Williams  College, 
possesses  these  attractions. 

'  Scenes  of  suah  beauty,  varying  in  the  light 
Of  living  nature,  cannot  be  portrayed 
By  words,  nor  by  the  pencil's  silent  skill, 
But  is  the  property  of  him  alone 
Who  hath  beheld  it,  noted  it  with  care, 
And  in  his  mind  recorded  it  with  love.' 


CHAPTER    VII. 

MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS  INFLUENCE  OF  THE  COLLEGE. 


We  have  reserved  until  the  last  the  subject  at  the  head  of  this 
chapter,  because  we  regard  it  as  the  most  important  of  all.  Knowledge 
is  power  ;  educated  men  will  exert  a  more  powerful  influence  in  the 
community  in  which  they  reside,  than  the  uneducated.  The  high 
places  in  society  are  for  the  most  part  filled  by  the  graduates  of  colleges, 
or  by  those  who  have  in  some  way  received  an  education  that  is 
equivalent  to  it.  The  leading  men  in  our  National  and  State  Legisla- 
tures, judges,  lawyers,  physicians,  and  clergymen  are  educated  men. 
In  every  town  and  village  in  our  country,  there  are  found  a  few  men 
that  exert  a  great  influence ;  they  are  the  oracles  of  wisdom ;  they  are 
the  men  who  have  received  a  better  education  than  those  among  whom 
they  dwell, 

How  important  it  is  then,  that  the  men  sent  out  from  our  colleges 
from  year  to  year,  be  men  of  moral  and  religious  principle.  It  is  not 
enough  that  they  exert  an  influence ;  it  should  be  a  healthful  influence. 
A  mind  may  be  well  stored  with  human  science,  but  destitute  of  moral 
principle;  such  minds  are  a  curse  to  the  community  rather  than  a 
blessing.  Educate  well  an  immoral  or  unprincipled  man,  and  he  is 
only  abler  prepared  to  corrupt  and  destroy.  No  college,  therefore,  can 
be  regarded  as  a  blessing  to  the  state  or  nation  in  which  it  is  located, 
unless  its  guardians  make  provision  for  the  moral,  as  well  as  for  the 
intellectual  culture  of  those  who  resort  to  it. 

The  Trustees  of  this  College  have  always  been  men  who  appreciated 
the  necessity  of  moral  and  religious  training,  and  have  appointed  from 
time  to  time,  those  men  to  instruct,  who  would  carry  out  their  views  — 
men  of  principle,  and  of  an  active  piety  —  who  would  labor  for  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  those  committed  to  their  charge.  Under  such 
auspices,  it  might  have  been  expected  that  the  influence  of  this  college 
would  be  as  good  as  it  was  great. 

Williams  College  sprung  into  being  during  the  French  Revolution, 
when  French  liberty  and  French  philosophy  were  pouring  in  their 


92  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

flood  of  impiety  and  infidelity,  and  threatened  to  sweep  away  every 
thing  serious.  In  the  early  classes  there  were  very  few  professors  of 
religion.  Many  of  the  students  made  Volney  their  oracle,  and  openly 
avowed  the  principles  he  inculcated. 

Although  the  number  of  pious  students  was  at  first  small,  they  were 
men  of  active  and  efficient  piety,  and  did  much  to  restrain  and  en- 
lighten their  companions.  For  four  or  five  years,  a  prayer-meeting 
was  sustained  every  evening  in  the  week.  At  the  ringing  of  the  bell 
at  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  as  many  as  were  disposed  met  together 
in  a  private  room,  read  a  chapter,  listened  to  a  few  expository  or  hor- 
tatory remarks,  and  united  in  prayer.  The  whole  exercise  did  not 
exceed  fifteen  minutes. 

Infidelity  gradually  diminished,  and  the  number  of  pious  young  men 
that  entered  College,  after  the  year  1800,  was  considerably  increased. 
There  was,  however,  no  special  attention  to  religion  in  College  until 
the  summer  of  1806.  *  Some  of  all  the  classes  shared  in  it.  It 
brought  religion  into  the  ascendant.'  Gordon  Hall  was  a  subject  of 
that  revival.  Samuel  J.  Mills  and  James  Richards  were  then  members 
of  the  College. 

An  important  fruit  of  this  revival  was  the  awakening  in  the  minds 
of  the  young  men  above  mentioned,  and  of  others,  a  missionary  spirit, 
which  resulted  in  the  organization  of  the  American  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions.  In  September,  1808,  an  association  was  formed  on  this 
ground,  with  a  written  constitution,  the  objects  and  character  of  which 
are  thus  stated  in  the  original  document : 

*  The  object  of  this  Society  shall  be  to  effect  in  the  persons  of  its 
members,  a  mission  or  missions  to  the  heathen.' 

*  No  person  shall  be  admitted  who  is  under  any  engagement  of  any 
kind,  which  shall  be  incompatible  with  going  on  a  mission  to  the 
heathen.' 

*  Each  member  shall  keep  absolutely  free  from  every  engagement, 
which,  after  his  prayerful  attention,  and  after  consultation  with  the 
brethren,  shall  be  deemed  incompatible  with  the  object  of  this  society  ; 
and  shall  hold  himself  in  readiness  to  go  on  a  mission  when  and  where 
duty  may  call.' 

This  constitution  was  originally  signed  by  Samuel  J.  Mills,  and 
James  Richards,  and  Ezra  Fisk,  and  Cyrus  W.  Gray,  and  Robert  C. 
Robbins,  and  Daniel  Smead ;  and  afterwards  by  Gordon  Hall.  Said 
Dr.  Griffin  in  speaking  of  this  society,  at  the  dedication  of  the  Chapel : 
*  I  have  been  in  situations  to  know  that  from  the  counsels  formed  in 
that  sacred  conclave,  or  from  the  mind  of  Mills  himself,  arose  the 
American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  the  American 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  93 

Bible  Society,  the  United  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  and  the  African 
School,  under  the  care  of  the  Synod  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey ; 
besides  all  the  impetus  given  to  domestic  missions,  to  the  Colonization 
Society,  and  to  the  general  cause  of  benevolence  in  both  hemispheres. 

We  have  been  told  by  one  who  was  then  a  member  of  college,  that 
Algernon  Sidney  bailey,  though  his  name  is  seldom  mentioned  in 
connection  with  this  subject,  did  as  much  as  any  one  to  awaken  a 
missionary  spirit.  From  Professor  Hopkins'  Narrative  of  Revivals  in 
Williams  College,  we  learn  that  this  Bailey  was  a  man  of  uncommon 
piety.  '  He  was  mighty,'  it  is  said,  '  in  prayer,  and  a  terror  to  the 
wicked,  both  in  town  and  college.'  In  the  summer  of  1805,  he  with  a 
few  others,  held  a  prayer  meeting,  over  the  Hoosic,  at  a  distance  from 
college,  to  pray  for  a  revival  among  the  students,  it  being  supposed 
that  such  a  meeting  could  not  be  held  in  College  without  interruption 
and  ridicule.  In  that  meeting,  it  is  thought,  was  the  beginning  of  the 
revival  of  which  we  have  just  spoken. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1811,  there  were  but  twenty  professors  of 
religion  in  College,  and  several  of  these  were  inefficient  as  Christians. 

'  The  Senior  class  appears  to  have  embodied  most  of  the  active 
piety  which  remained,  and  as  this  class  entered  upon  its  last  year, 
distressing  apprehensions  began  to  be  entertained  lest  religion  should 
altogether  go  out  in  the  institution.'  In  the  spring  term,  (1812)  a 
Senior  conversed  with  all  the  professors  of  religion  in  College,  and 
established  a  Sabbath  morning  meeting,  which  has  been  continued  to 
the  present  time,  and  is  now  observed  in  all  the  colleges  and  theological 
seminaries  of  New  England,  as  a  concert  of  prayer  for  colleges.  This 
meeting  was  thronged.  The  disorderly  spirit  which  had  prevailed  was 
hushed,  and  the  solemnity  of  death  reigned  through  the  institution. 
Charles  Jenkins,  then  a  Junior,  went  to  Professor  Dewey  one  forenoon, 
and  said,  '  We  (the  class)  wish  not  to  have  a  recitation  at  eleven  ;  but 
to  meet  in  the  recitation  room,  and  hear  you  on  the  subject  of  religion.' 
Jenkins  had  been  a  deist,  but  now,  '  his  voice  faltered,  and  the  big  tear 
stood  in  his  eye.'  He  said  '  the  truth  was  all  before  him,  and  he  could 
find  no  refuge  in  error.'  He  soon  became  a  new  man.  This  was  the 
Rev.  Charles  Jenkins,  who  died  in  Portland  in  1831.  The  Professor 
met  the  class.  '  The  feeling  was  so  deep  that  several  minutes  elapsed 
before  anything  could  be  said.  The  place  was  truly  a  Bochim.' 
This  revival  changed  entirely  the  aspect  of  College.'  '  The  whole 
number  that  cherished  hopes  was  between  thirty  and  forty,  nearly  all  of 
whom  were  in  the  three  lower  classes.'  The  Junior  exhibition  was 
dispensed  with,  and  in  its  stead  a  sermon  was  preached  by  Professor 
Dewey. 

12 


94  SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

The  next  revival  was  in  the  summer  of  1815.  The  first  indication 
of  seriousness  was  in  connection  with  the  preaching  of  the  President, 
Dr.  Fitch,  which  was  more  than  usually  pungent.  The  converts  were 
mostly  from  the  upper  classes,  so  that  its  influence  upon  the  College 
was  more  transient  than  that  of  1812. 

During  all  the  presidency  of  Dr.  Moore,  the  subject  of  the  removal 
of  the  College  was  agitated,  and  though  about  half  of  the  students  were 
professedly  pious,  religion  was  in  a  low  state. 

In  1824,  a  deep  seriousness  pervaded  the  whole  College,  but  there 
was  only  one  conversion  ;  that  was  William  Hervey  who  went  on  a 
mission  to  India,  where  he  died  in  1832.  At  this  time,  one  of"  the 
Professors  said,  *  Is  it  possible  that  God  has  shaken  this  College  to  the 
centre,  to  bring  out  one  conversion  ?  '  *  His  conversion,'  says  Professor 
Hopkins,  *  was  worth  this  and  infinitely  more.'  It  is  supposed  that  the 
idea  of  an  annual  fast  for  the  conversion  of  the  world  originated  with 
Hetvey. 

In  the  autumn  of  1825,  there  was  another  revival,  which  continued 
through  the  spring  term  of  1826.  Our  limits  will  not  allow  us  to  give 
the  particulars.  The  reader  is  referred  to  Professor  Hopkins'  account 
of  revivals  in  Williams  College,  in  the  Quarterly  Register,  vol.  13; 
to  which  article  we  are  indebted  for  most  of  the  facts  in  this  chapter. 

The  number  of  students  then  in  College  was  85 ;  43  were  hopefully 
pious  before ;  27  indulged  hopes  during  the  revival ;  15  remained 
without  hope,  11  of  whom  were  absent  from  College. 

This  revival  came  at  the  darkest  hour  of  the  College's  existence.  It 
seemed  a  special  interposition  of  Providence  to  preserve  the  Institution 
from  extinction.  It  forced  upon  the  churches  the  irresistible  im- 
pression, *  Heaven  has  decreed  that  this  College  shall  live.'  In  the 
strength  of  it  Dr.  Griffin  went  forth,  and  in  a  wonderfully  short  time, 
in  a  season  of  commercial  embarrassment,  raised  $25,000  for  the 
funds  of  the  sinking  college.  *  He  was  convinced  that  it  was  an 
institution  dear  to  Christ,'  and  he  devoted  his  powerful  energies  to  its 
up-building,  with  an  enthusiasm  which  such  a  conviction  alone  could 
have  inspired.  And  when  success  was  attained,  he  could  not  but 
exclaim  :  '  This  College  has  been  saved  by  the  Holy  Ghost ;  and  to 
the  Holy  Ghost  let  it  be  forever  devoted,  as  a  scene  of  revivals  of 
religion,  to  raise  up  ministers  and  missionaries  for  Christ  and  his 
Church.'  *  I  will  go  home,'  said  he,  *  and  preach  this  doctrine  to  the 
Trustees,  and  Faculty,  and  students,  and  the  people  of  the  town,  and 
to  all  the  friends  of  Williams  College.  I  would  it  were  written  on  the 
broad  side  of  heaven,  where  all  the  friends  of  the  College  might  read 
it  till  the  final  conflagration.' 


SKETCHES    OF    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.  95 

In  the  autumn  of  1826,  there  were  eleven  conversions,  mostly  in  the 
Freshman  class.  During  the  three  succeeding  years,  the  religious 
history  of  the  College  became  dark.  There  was  a  great  increase  of 
impiety  and  wickedness.  At  the  commencement  of  the  spring  term 
of  1829,  the  religious  aspect  of  College  was  greatly  changed.  There 
was  a  deep  feeling  among  professors  of  religion  :  more  than  twenty 
gave  up  their  hopes  ;  there  were  several  conversions. 

There  was  considerable  religious  interest  in  1832,  and  it  is  thought 
that  the  revival  of  that  year  contributed  more  than  that  of  any  former 
year,  to  permanent  religious  order.  It  led  Christians  to  act  from  a 
principle  of  steady  devotedness,  of  personal  exertion,  and  self-sacrifice. 

In  1834,  the  religious  influence  in  College  was  increased  by  the 
admission  of  a  large  number  of  pious  young  men,  who  had  been  sub- 
jects of  the  revivals  that  occurred  through  the  country  extensively  in 
1831.  About  this  time,  the  College  Church  was  formed,  A  tutor, 
who  was  appointed  this  year,  was  much  devoted  to  the  spiritual  wel- 
fare of  the  students.  Meetings,  continuing  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes, 
were  holden  every  day  at  noon,  which  had  a  salutary  influence.  One 
young  man,  who  had  embraced  infidel  sentiments,  was  greatly  annoyed 
by  these  meetings,  although  he  did  not  attend  them.  He  heard  the 
singing  ;  it  arrested  his  attention  ;  led  to  serious  reflection  ;  and  finally 
to  his  conversion. 

In  the  spring  of  1838,  there  was  a  season  of  spiritual  refreshing, 
which  resulted  in  the  conversion  of  several  individuals,  though  the 
work  was  not  as  deep  nor  as  thorough  as  in  some  former  years.  The 
years  1840,  and  1842,  also  witnessed  powerful  out-pourings  of  God's 
Spirit.  And  in  the  spring  of  the  present  year,  (1847,)  when  this 
account  was  written,  holy  influences  were  at  work.  Many  were 
converted.  Many  Christians  were  strengthened  in  their  faith,  and 
many  professors  discovered  that  they  had  built  their  hopes  on  the  sand, 
and  founded  their  future  hopes,  as  they  trusted,  on  the  Rock,  Christ 
Jesus. 

Thus  has  this  College,  from  its  early  years  to  the  present  time,  been 
peculiarly  favored  by  the  visits  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Although  the 
Institution  has  sometimes  struggled  for  its  very  existence,  and  has 
passed  through  the  fire,  and,  if  we  may  so  speak,  '  through  the  valley 
of  the  shadow  of  death,'  God  has  raised  it  up  friends.  He  has  made  it 
an  object  of  love  to  the  church,  as  the  birth-place  of  American  Mis- 
sions. Long  may  these  sacred  influences  hover  around  us,  until 
heathen  nations  shall  join  with  us  in  blessing  God  for  the  establish- 
ment of  Williams  College. 


APPENDIX 


THE  WILL  OF  COLONEL  WILLIAMS. 

The  following  copy  of  the  will  of  Colonel  Williams,  kindly  furnished 
by  a  friend,  was  received  too  late  for  insertion  in  the  chapter  containing 
a  sketch  of  his  life.  We  therefore  present  it  in  an  appendix,  thinking 
it  may  be  of  interest,  both  from  its  connection  with  the  foundation  of 
the  college,  and  as  an  object  of  curiosity  to  the  antiquarian. 

'In  the  name  of  God,  Amen.  I,  Ephraim  Williams,  of  Hatfield,  in  the 
County  of  Hampshire,  in  New  England,  now  at  Albany,  in  the  province  of  New 
York,  on  my  march  in  the  expedition  against  Crown  Point,  being  of  sound  and 
perfect  mind  and  memory,  ( blessed  be  God  therefor, )  but  not  knowmg  how  * 
God  in  his  providence  may  dispose  of  my  life,  and  remembering  the  uncertainty 
of  it  at  all  times,  I  do  therefore  make,  and  publish  this,  my  last  Will  and  Tes- 
tament, in  the  following  manner  : 

First,  I  give  my  soul  into  the  hands  of  God  that  gave  it,  and  my  body  to  the 
dust,  from  whence  it  was  taken,  humbly  hoping  for  pardon,  acceptance,  and  a 
resurrection  to  immortal  glory,  through  the  merits  and  mediation  of  a  glorious 
Redeemer ;  and  as  touching  such  worldly  estate,  wherewith  it  has  pleased 
God  to  bless  me  in  this  life,  I  give,  bequeath  and  dispose  of  the  same,  in  manner 
and  form  following,  that  is  to  sa}'^ : 

/fern.  It  is  ray  will  and  desire,  that  my  just  debts  and  funeral  charges  be 
first  paid  and  discharged  by  my  Executors,  hereafter  named,  out  of  my   estate. 

Ittm.  It  is  my  will  and  desire  that  the  deed  I  gave  my  brother  Elijah 
Williams,  of  my  house  and  homestead  at  Stockbridge,  and  my  note  hand, 
payable  for  one  hundred  pounds,  in  twelve  months  after  my  parents'  decease, 
as  also  his  mortgage  deed  and  his  bond  to  me,  be  destroyed,  and  made  of  none 
eflfect. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  beloved  brothers,  Josiah  Williams  and 
Elijah  Williams,  and  the  heirs  of  their  bodies,  my  homestead  at  Stockbridge, 
with  all  the  buildings  and  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging,  with  all  the  stock 
of  cattle,  and  negro  servants  now  upon  the  place,  to  be  equally  divided  between 
them,  upon  the  following  conditions,  and  not  otherwise,  viz  :  That  they  pay 
annually  to  my  honored  mother,  for  her  support,  twenty-six  pounds,  thirteen 


APPENDIX.  97 

shillings  and  four  pence,  and  also,  provided  they  fulfil  the  obligations  I  laid 
myself  under,  in  a  certain  bond  to  my  honored  parents,  for  their  support,  and 
decent  interment,  exclusive  of  the  money  I  then  obliged  myself  annually  to 
pay  her  ;  provided  also,  that  they  pay  unto  my  sister  Judith  Williams,  or  the 
heirs  of  her  body,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds,  and  to  the  heirs  of  my 
sister  Abigail  Dwight,  born  of  her  body,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds,  to 
be  paid  them  severally,  within  twelve  months  after  my  honored  mother's  decease. 
In  case  my  sisters,  Judith  or  Elizabeth  should  come  to  die  without  heirs ;  then 
it  is  my  will  that  her,  or  their  part  or  parts  shall  devolve  to  the  heirs  of  my 
sister  Abigail  Dwight. 

Item.  It  is  my  will,  that  in  case  one  of  my  aforesaid  brothers  die  without 
issue,  then  the  whole  of  the  above  bequest  revert  to  the  survivor,  and  the 
heirs  of  his  body,  provided  he  fulfil  the  above  obligations  laid  on  them  both; 
but  in  case  my  said  brothers  die  without  issue,  then  my  will  is  that  the  above 
mentioned  estate  be  sold,  and  the  money  be  put  out  to  interest,  and  that  the 
said  interest  shall  be  used  for  some  pious  or  charitable  purposes,  as  the  propa- 
gating Christianity,  the  support  of  the  poor  in  the  county  of  Hampshire,  or  for 
schools  on  the  frontier,  in  the  county  aforesaid,  to  be  at  the  direction  of  my 
Executors,  herein  after  named,  and  after  their  decease,  to  be  at  the  direction  of 
the  justices  of  the  sessions  for  the  county  aforesaid;  but  in  case  my  brother, 
Elijah  Williams,  should  deny,  or  refuse  to  destroy  the  above  mentioned 
writings,  as  above  directed,  then  it  is  my  will  he  pay  to  my  honored  mother, 
annually,  for  her  support,  twenty-six  pounds,  thirteen  shillings  and  four  pence, 
and  also  the  sum  of  thirteen  pounds,  six  shillings  and  eight  pence,  to  my  broth- 
er Josiah  Williams,  annually,  until  my  honored  mother's  decease,  after  which, 
to  pay  to  my  sisters,  and  the  heirs  of  my  s  ster  Abigail  Dwight,  as  above 
directed,  and  that,  within  one  twelve  months  after  my  honored  mother's  decease  ; 
also  to  pay  to  my  brother  Josiah  Williams,  or  the  heirs  of  his  body,  the  sum  of 
four  hundred  pounds,  and  in  case  my  said  brother  Josiah  should  die  without 
issue,  then  it  is  my  will  that  my  brother  Elijah  shall  pay  the  said  sum  of  four 
hundred  pounds  to  my  executors,  to  be  appropriated  by  them  to  some";  or  all  the 
public  uses  above  mentioned. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  beloved  brother,  Thomas  Williams,  one 
hundred  pounds,  to  be  paid  him  out  of  my  bonds;  but  in  case  of  his  decease  in 
the  present  expedition,  to  be  equally  divided  amongst  his  five  daughters,  viz  : 
Elizabeth,  Anne,  Cynthia,  Mary  and  Martha. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  beloved  cousin,  Thomas  Williams,  son  to 
my  brother,  Thomas  Williams,  nine  hundred  dollars  of  land,  known  by  the 
name  of  the  Equivalent,  and  joining  upon  the  township  of  Stockbridge  ;  and  in 
case  he  dies  without  issue,  I  give  it  to  my  beloved  cousins,  Erastus  Sergeant 
and  John  Sergeant,  to  be  equally  divided  between  them  ;  but  in  case  one  dies 
without  issue,  the  whole  to  go  to  the  survivor  ;  if  they  both  die  without  issue, 
the  whole  to  be  appropriated  to  the  public  uses,  as  before  mentioned. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  loving  cousins,  Elijah  Graves,  Moses 
Graves,  John  Graves,  and  Martha  Graves,  children  of  Moses  and  Martha 
Graves,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds,  to  be  equally  divided  between  them  ; 
in  case  any  dies  without  issue,  then  the  whole  to  go  to  the  survivor  or  survivors  ; 
and  in  case  they  all  die  without  issue,  then  the  said  hundred  pounds  to  be 
appropriated  to  the  public  uses,  as  above  directed,  the  said  money  to  be  taken 
out  of  Moses  Graves'  and  Elisha  Chapin's  joint  bond,  and  to  be  put  on  interest 
until  the  children  come  of  age. 


98  APPENDIX. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  beloved  cousins,  James  and  John  Gray, 
sons  of  James  and  Sarah  Gray,  fifty  acres  of  land  lying  north  of  the  great 
pond,  in  Stockbridge,  so  called,  bounded  upon  land  of  their  father,  James  Gray, 
on  the  east,  by  Jo&iaii  Jones'  land  on  the  west,  by  the  great  pond  on  the  south, 
and  the  town  line  on  the  north,  to  be  equally  divided  between  them  ;  but  in 
case  they  die  without  issue,  then  th^  said  land  to  be  disposed  of  for  public  uses, 
as  aforesaid. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  loving  cousins,  William  Williams,  and 
Israel  Williams,  sons  of  Israel  Williams,  Esq.,  and  Sarah,  his  wife,  two  lots  of 
meadow  land  in  Hatfield,  Great  Meadow,  the  contents  of  which,  and  the  bounds, 
may  be  seen  in  a  deed  given  to  me  of  the  same,  by  Moses  Graves,  of  Hatfield. 
The  lot  lying  nearest  to  Fine  Bridge,  I  give  to  William,  and  the  other  to  Israel, 
and  in  case  one  of  them  dies  without  issue,  then  both  lots  to  go  to  the  survivor ; 
if  they  both  die  without  issue,  then  the  lots  to  be  disposed  of  for  public  uses, 
as  above  directed. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  ray  beloved  cousins,  Eunice  Williams,  Jerusha, 
Elizabeth,  and  Lucretia  Williams,  daughters  of  Israel  Williams,  Esq.,  and 
Sarah,  his  wife,  the  sum  of  twenty  pounds  each.  In  case  any  of  them  die 
without  issue,  their  part  to  be  equally  divided  among  the  survivors  ;  and  in 
case  they  all  should  die  without  issue,  the  money  to  be  disposed  of  for  public 
uses  as  aforesaid. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  loving  cousin,  Elizabeth  Williams,  over 
and  above  the  twenty  pounds  above  mentioned,  my  silver  cream  pot  and  tea 
spoons. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  loving  brother,  Thomas  Williams,  all  my 
wearing  apparel,  and  my  shoe  buckles  ;  but  in  case  my  said  brother  should  die, 
I  then  give  them  to  my  surviving  brothers,  to  be  equally  divided  among  them. 

hem.  I  give  to  my  beloved  friend  and  kinsman,  Israel  Williams,  Esq.,  of 
Hatfield,  my  sorrel  mare,  now  at  Northampton,  and  my  bald  colt,  now  at 
Sheflield. 

Item..  I  give  to  my  trusty  and  well  beloved  friend,  Jr>hn  Worthington,  Esq., 
of  Springfield,  my  Chambers'  Dictionary,  with  the  whole  of  Pope's  works, 
and  some  other  books  that  came  in  the  same  box,  now  in  his  hands,  and  also 
my  French  fire  arm,  my  case  of  pistols  and  hanger,  in  case  the  French  don't 
get  tliem ;  but  if  he  dies  without  issue,  then  the  above  articles  to  be  given  to 
the  eldest  male  heir  in  Colonel  Israel  Williams'  family. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  beloved  brother,  Thomas  Williams,  my  fire 
arm,  now  in  possession. 

Item.  I  give  the  remaining  part  of  my  library,  not  yet  disposed  of,  (excepting 
my  large  Bible,  and  Ridgley's  Body  of  Divinity,)  to  my  beloved  brothers, 
Thomas  and  Elijah  Williams,  to  be  equally  divided  between  them;  but  in  case 
my  brother  Thomas  dies,  his  part  to  go  to  his  son  Thomas;  and  in  case  my 
brother  Elijah  dies  without  issue,  then  his  part  to  be  given  to  my  cousins, 
William  and  Israel  Williams,  to  be  equally  divided  between  them,  over  and 
ab'ive  the  lots  of  land  bequeathed  them  above  ;  and  it  is  my  will  and  desire, 
further,  that  my  cousin  William  Williams,  above  mentioned,  shall  have  the 
perusal  of  the  books  hereby  given  to  my  brothers,  Thomas  and  Elijah,  any 
reasonable  time  upon  his  desire. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  brother  Thomas  Williams*  two  eldest 
daughters,  three  silver  spoons,  now  at  Hatfield,  and  a  silver  tankard  now  at 


APPENDIX.  99 

Stockbridge,  and   what   silver  may  be  bequeathed   me  by  my  aunt  Cooke  in 
New  Town. 

Item.  I  give  to  my  brother  Josiah,  my  large  Bible,  and  Ridgley's  body  of 
Divinity. 

Item.  I  give  to  Solomon  and  Israel  Stoddard,  sons  of  my  great  benefactor, 
John  Stoddard,  deceased,  my  two  colts  now  at  Northampton. 

Item.  I  give  and  devise  and  remit  to  the  poor,  distressed  and  imprudent 
Captain  Elisha  Chapin,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds,  to  be  deducted  out  of 
the  bond  given  jointly  by  Moses  Graves  and  said  Elisha  Chapin  ;  the  said 
hundred  pounds  to  be  remitted  out  of  said  Chapm's  part. 

Item  It  is  my  will,  and  pleasure,  and  desire,  that  the  remaining  part  of 
lands  not  yet  disposed  of,  shall  be  sold  at  the  direction  of  my  executors,  within 
five  years  after  an  established  peace,  and  the  interest  of  the  money,  and  also 
the  interest  of  my  money  arising  by  my  bonds  and  notes,  shall  be  appropriated 
towards  the  support  and  niaintainance  of  a  free  school,  (in  a  township  west  of 
Fort  Massnchusetts,  commonly  called  the  West  Township,)  forever,  provided 
the  said  township  fall  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  province  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Bay,  and,  provided  also,  that  the  Governor  and  general  Court  give  the 
said  township  the  name  of  Williamstown  ;  and  it  is  my  further  will  and  desire 
that  if  there  should  remain  any  monies  of  the  above  donation,  for  the  said 
school,  it  be  given  towards  the  support  of  a  school  in  the  East  Township,  where 
the  fort  now  stands;  but  in  case  the  above  provisos  are  not  complied  with,  then 
it  is  my  will  and  desire  that  the  interest  of  the  above  mentioned  monies  be 
appropriated  to  some  pious  and  charitable  uses,  in  manner  and  form  as  directed 
in  the  former  of  this,  my  last  Will  and  Testament. 

Lastly.  1  nominate  and  appoint  my  trusty  and  well  beloved  friends,  Israel 
Williams,  Esq.,  of  Hatfield,  and  John  Worthington,  Esq  ,  of  Ppringfield,  in  the 
County  of  Hampshire,  and  I'rovince  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  of  New  England, 
to  by  Executors  of  this  my  last  Will  and  Testament,  and  thereby  revoke,  disa- 
nul,  and  make  void  all  former  Wills  and  Testaments  by  me  heretofore  made, 
done  or  executed  ;  and  I  do  hereby  confirm  and  allow  this,  and  no  other,  to  be 
my  last  Will  and  Testament,  and  desire  it  may  be  observed  as  such. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal,  the  twenty-second  day 
of  July  in  the  twenty-ninth  year  of  his  Majesty's  reign,  and  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty-five. 

Signed,  sealed,    published,  pronounced  and 
declared,  by  the  said  Ephraim  Williams  as 

his  last  will  and  testament,  (the  erasure  at  EPHRAIM  WILLIAMS,  (Seal.) 
the  word  Hatfield,  being  first  made,)  in  the 
presence  of  us,  who  were  present  at  the 
signing. 

William  Williams,  Jr. 

Noah  Belding. 

Richard  Cartwright. 


MISSIONARIES  WHO  HAVE  GRADUATED  AT  THIS 
COLLEGE. 


The  following  graduates  of  Williams  College  have  been,  or  are  Missionaries 
of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions. 

GoRno.v  Hall,  born  Tolland,  Mass.,  1784  ;  graduated  1808;  went  to  Bom- 
bay in  1813  5  died  at  Doorle  Dhapr^or,  182(). 

Samui.l  J.  Mills,  born  Torringford,  Ct  ,  1783;  graduated  1809;  went  on 
missionary  tours  through  the  western  and  southern  sections  of  the  United 
States,  from  IH1"2  to  1815;  went  to  Kngland,  and  from  thence  to  Africa,  in  1818, 
and  ditd  at  sea,  June  16,  of  the  same  year. 

Jamks  Richards,  born  Ahington,  Mass.,  1784;  graduated  1809;  went  to 
Ceylon  in  I«lb  ;  died  August  3,  1822. 

LuTHKR  Rice,  born  Norihboro'  Mass,  1783;  graduated  PBIO;  went  to  Cal- 
cutta, became  a  Baptist;  willidrew  from  the  A.  B.  C  F.  M.,  returned  to 
America  in  1813,  and  labored  in  the  cause  of  Baptist  missions. 

Alfred  Wright,  born  Columbia,  Ct.,  1788;  graduated  in  1812;  went  to 
the  Choctaw  Indians  1821. 

Jonas  Ki.ng,  born  Hawley,  Mass,  1792;  graduated  1816;  went  to  Jerusalem 
in  1823  to  Foros  in  Greece,  in  1828,  and  to  Athens  in  1831,  where  he  still 
labors. 

John  C.  BRiGHAM,born  New  Marlborough,  Mass.,  1794;  graduated  1819; 
went  on  a  missionary  tour  through  South  America,  1822,  3,  and  4  ;  is  now 
Correspondmg  Secretary  of  the  American  Bible  Society. 

William  Richarps,  born  I'lainfield,  Mass.,  1793;  graduated  in  1819;  went 
to  Sandwich  Islands  in  1822;  since  1838  has  held  the  offices  of  Foreign  Am- 
bassador, and  Secretary  of  State  under  the  government  of  the  Islands 

William  Hervky,  born  Kmgsburv,  JN.  Y.,  1709;  graduated  1824;  went  to 
Bombay  in  1831  ;  died  May  13,  1832  " 

Mollis  Read,  born  Newfane,  Vt  ,  1802;  went  to  Bombay  in  1830,  returned 
in  lrt35,  and  is  now  pastor  ot  a  church  in  Derby,  Ct 

Henry  R.  Hoisington,  born  Vergennes,  Vt.,  181)1;  graduated  1828;  went 
to  Ceylon,  in  1833. 

Samuel  Hutchings,  born  New  York  City,  18f;6;  graduated  in  1828;  went 
to  Ceylon  in  1833. 

David  B.  Lyman,  born  New  Hartford,  Ct.,  1803;  graduated  1828;  went  to 
Sandwich  Islands,  in  1831. 

Charles  Robinson,  graduated  in  1829;  went  to  Bankok,  in  1833. 

Simeon  H.  Calhoun,  born  in  Boston  ;  graduated  in  1829;  went  to  Greece 
and  Turkey  in  1836,  as  agent  of  the  American  Bible  Society ;  went  to  Syi-ia 
in  1p43. 

Lowell  Smith, born  Heath,  Mass.,  1802;  graduated  in  1829;  went  to  the 
Sandwich  Islands  in  1832. 

Nathan  Benjamin,  born  Catskill,  N.  Y.,  1811  ;  graduated  in  1831;  went  to 
Greece  in  1836;  to  Nicomedia  in  1846. 

John  Dunbar,  born  Palmer,  Mass.,  1804;  graduated  in  1832;  went  to  the 
Grand  Pawnees  in  1834. 

CusHiNG  Eells,  born  Blandford,  Mass.,  1810  ;  graduated  in  1834  ;  went  to 
Oregon  in  1838. 

OzRo  French,  born  Dummerston,  Vt.,  1807;  graduated  in  1834  j  went  to 
Bombay  in  1839. 


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